Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
05:50
Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy
Published on: November 1, 2021
2.5K
Cell migration orchestrates migrasome formation by shaping retraction fibers
Changyuan Fan1,2, Xuemeng Shi3,4, Kaikai Zhao5,6
1Unit of Cell Biology and Imaging Study of Pathogen Host Interaction, The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|February 18, 2022
Summary
Migrasome formation decreases in turning cells due to fewer retraction fibers. Cell migration speed and persistence, regulated by vimentin, are key factors controlling migrasome production.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Cytoskeleton Dynamics
Background:
- Migrasomes are novel vesicle-like structures observed on cellular retraction fibers.
- Their formation and regulation, particularly concerning cell migration dynamics, remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cell migration patterns (persistence and speed) and migrasome formation.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which cell migration regulates migrasome production.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of migrasome numbers in straight versus turning migrating cells.
- Assessment of cell morphology, retraction fiber dynamics, and migration speed.
- Genetic manipulation involving vimentin to study its role in cell migration and migrasome formation.
Main Results:
- Turning cells exhibit significantly fewer migrasomes compared to persistently migrating cells.
- Reduced migrasome formation in turning cells is attributed to narrower rear ends and fewer retraction fibers.
- Cell migration speed positively correlates with migrasome formation, linked to retraction fiber length.
- Vimentin deficiency impairs cell migration speed and persistence, leading to decreased migrasome numbers.
Conclusions:
- Cell migration persistence and speed are critical regulators of migrasome formation.
- These migration parameters control migrasome production by influencing the dynamics and number of retraction fibers.
- The cytoskeleton, specifically vimentin, plays a crucial role in mediating the observed effects.
Related Concept Videos
01:32Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
4.9K
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...
4.9K
01:18Role of Myosin in Cell Migration
2.5K
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.
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction....
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction....
2.5K
01:09Cell Migration
17.3K
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.
17.3K
01:31Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
2.8K
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...
2.8K
01:13Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
5.6K
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
5.6K
01:16Cell Motility through Blebbing
2.1K
Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
2.1K