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Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Analyses of Actin Dynamics, Clutch Coupling and Traction Force for Growth Cone Advance
Published on: October 21, 2021
Interrogating the Molecular Clutch in Neuronal Growth Cones: Measuring Traction Forces, F-actin Retrograde Flow, and
Ketakee Ghate1,2, Sampada P Mutalik1,3, Aurnab Ghose4
1Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, Pune, India.
Abstract:
Growth cone-dependent outgrowth of neuronal processes is essential for the development, plasticity, and regenerative capacity of the nervous system. This process involves the attachment of the growth cone to the substrate and the cyclical engagement/disengagement of the molecular clutch at the sites of adhesive contact. In this chapter, we describe protocols for traction force microscopy, measurement of F-actin retrograde flow velocities, and the assessment of adhesive point contacts by immunofluorescence. These complementary techniques collectively facilitate investigations into the regulation of the molecular clutch in neuronal growth cones.
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