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Related Concept Videos

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

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A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
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Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

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Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
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Cell Migration01:09

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Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
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Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

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Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
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Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

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Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
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Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

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Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Traction Microscopy Integrated with Microfluidics for Chemotactic Collective Migration
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How adherens junctions move cells during collective migration.

Shafali Gupta1, Alpha S Yap1

  • 1Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4072.

Faculty Reviews
|July 26, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Adherens junctions and the actomyosin cytoskeleton drive collective cell movement. These junctions promote cell locomotion via lamellipodia and junctional contraction, supporting epithelial tissue dynamics.

Keywords:
Collective cell migrationadherens junctionscadherinscytoskeletonepitheliaintercalation

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Last Updated: Oct 26, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Adherens junctions are crucial cell-cell adhesion complexes.
  • The actomyosin cytoskeleton is essential for cell shape and motility.
  • Collective cell movement is fundamental in development and tissue repair.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how adherens junctions interact with the actomyosin cytoskeleton.
  • To highlight mechanisms by which adherens junctions influence collective cell migration.
  • To synthesize recent findings on the roles of cadherins and cytoskeletal dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research findings.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms linking cell adhesion and cytoskeleton.
  • Integration of data on cadherin function and actomyosin contractility.

Main Results:

  • Adherens junctions promote cell locomotion through two main pathways: lamellipodia formation and junctional contraction.
  • Classic cadherins facilitate the assembly of cortical actin at adhesion sites.
  • Adherens junctions directly couple to the contractile actomyosin network.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between cadherin-mediated adhesion and cytoskeletal regulation is diverse.
  • Adherens junctions provide multiple mechanisms to support epithelial cell locomotion.
  • Understanding these interactions is key to comprehending tissue morphogenesis and dynamics.