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Related Concept Videos

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

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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.
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Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
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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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Actin Polymerization01:42

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Actin polymerization occurs through the head-to-tail association of binding sites on monomeric actin or G-actin to form filamentous or F-actin. The polymerization can be divided into three phases ̶  nucleation, elongation, and steady-state phase.
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In eukaryotic cells,  cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
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Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
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Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins
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Light-guided actin polymerization drives directed motility in protocells.

Hideaki T Matsubayashi1,2,3, Shiva Razavi1,2,4,5, T Willow Rock1,2

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University.

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Researchers optically controlled actin polymerization in artificial cells, enabling them to move and extend membranes. This breakthrough advances synthetic cell design and bioengineering applications like self-propelled systems.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics and Molecular Engineering
  • Cellular Dynamics and Cytoskeletal Mechanics

Background:

  • Cell motility is crucial for biological processes but challenging to replicate in synthetic systems.
  • Actin cytoskeleton polymerization drives cell movement, yet its recapitulation in protocells is difficult.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method for optically controlling actin polymerization in cell-mimetic vesicles.
  • To investigate the mechanisms of membrane extension and movement in active protocells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) as cell-mimetic lipid vesicles.
  • Employed optical control for high spatiotemporal precision of actin polymerization within GUVs.
  • Analyzed actin network reorganization, membrane protrusions, and GUV movement.

Main Results:

  • Achieved optically controlled actin polymerization within GUVs, creating active protocells.
  • Observed outward membrane extensions and unidirectional GUV movement up to 0.43 μm/min.
  • Demonstrated a synergistic effect of branched and linear actin in promoting membrane protrusions.

Conclusions:

  • Developed a platform for studying cell migration and designing synthetic cells with active morphodynamics.
  • Findings highlight the cooperative role of different actin forms in cytoskeletal dynamics.
  • Potential applications include self-propelled delivery systems and autonomous biomaterials.