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Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

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....

Introduction to Actin

Introduction to Actin

Actin is a highly conserved cytoskeletal protein found abundantly in eukaryotic cells. It constitutes 10% weight of the total cellular protein in muscle cells, while in non-muscle cells, it is lower and makes up around 1–5 percent of the total cell protein. Actin found in the unicellular amoebae and complex multicellular animals is around 80% similar, demonstrating their conservation over a billion years of evolution. Actin coding genes are conserved within species and across...

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They are held...

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin...

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

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....

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Published on: November 1, 2021

Actin nucleoskeleton in embryonic development and cellular differentiation.

Sivagami Gunasekaran¹, Yasuki Miyagawa¹, Kei Miyamoto¹

¹Faculty of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Wakayama, 649-6493, Japan.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology

|May 23, 2022

Summary

Nuclear actin dynamics are crucial for gene expression and DNA repair. This review highlights actin

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Last Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

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Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Developmental Biology

Background:

Actin proteins dynamically assemble and disassemble, primarily known for cytoplasmic functions in the cytoskeleton.
Emerging evidence reveals actin's dynamic polymerization within the nucleus, influencing key nuclear events.
Nuclear actin is implicated in gene expression, DNA damage response, and chromatin organization.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the emerging roles of actin in the nuclear compartment, focusing on embryonic development and cellular differentiation.
To explain the formation and function of the actin nucleoskeleton.
To discuss the significance of dynamic nuclear actin in developmental processes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies on nuclear actin dynamics.
Analysis of actin's role in gene expression, DNA repair, and chromatin organization.
Examination of changes in nuclear actin dynamics during cell fate transitions.

Main Results:

Nuclear actin dynamics are essential for key nuclear events like gene expression and DNA damage response.
The actin nucleoskeleton forms and functions within the nucleus.
Nuclear actin dynamics significantly change during critical developmental stages, such as fertilization and T cell differentiation.

Conclusions:

The dynamic actin nucleoskeleton plays a vital role in the nucleus, particularly during embryonic development and cellular differentiation.
Altered nuclear actin dynamics are linked to significant cell fate changes.
The dynamic actin nucleoskeleton is crucial for executing developmental programs.