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Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Micromanipulation Techniques Allowing Analysis of Morphogenetic Dynamics and Turnover of Cytoskeletal Regulators
Published on: May 12, 2018
The compass to follow: Focal adhesion turnover
Manos Mavrakis1, M Angeles Juanes2
1Institut Fresnel, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Univ, Centrale Marseille, 13013 Marseille, France.
Abstract:
How cells move is a fundamental biological question. The directionality of adherent migrating cells depends on the assembly and disassembly (turnover) of focal adhesions (FAs). FAs are micron-sized actin-based structures that link cells to the extracellular matrix. Traditionally, microtubules have been considered key to triggering FA turnover. Through the years, advancements in biochemistry, biophysics, and bioimaging tools have been invaluable for many research groups to unravel a variety of mechanisms and molecular players that contribute to FA turnover, beyond microtubules. Here, we discuss recent discoveries of key molecular players that affect the dynamics and organization of the actin cytoskeleton to enable timely FA turnover and consequently proper directed cell migration.
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