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Related Concept Videos

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

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...
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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.
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

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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Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

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...
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

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...
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Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Imaging Plasma Membrane Deformations With pTIRFM
12:28

Imaging Plasma Membrane Deformations With pTIRFM

Published on: April 2, 2014

Dynamic Plasma Membrane Topography Linked With Arp2/3 Actin Network Induction During Cell Shape Change.

Tony J C Harris1

  • 1Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
|March 31, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell surface topography changes are mechanosensitive and drive cell shape changes. Local plasma membrane curvature directly influences actin network formation, remodeling cell structure.

Keywords:
Arp2/3cell cortex remodelingcytoskeletonmechanotransductionmembrane curvaturemicroenvironmentnucleation promoting factors

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Imaging Plasma Membrane Deformations With pTIRFM
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Micromanipulation Techniques Allowing Analysis of Morphogenetic Dynamics and Turnover of Cytoskeletal Regulators
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Published on: May 12, 2018

Quantitative Analysis of Cell Edge Dynamics during Cell Spreading
10:54

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Published on: May 22, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Mechanobiology

Background:

  • Mesoscale changes in plasma membrane (PM) topography are crucial for cell shape alteration.
  • The cell surface is mechanosensitive, responding to microenvironmental cues and cytoskeletal dynamics.
  • PM topography changes initiate mechanical signaling pathways that interact with molecular signaling to remodel the cell cortex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the causes and effects of PM topography changes.
  • To highlight the role of PM curvature in actin network induction.
  • To connect PM topography dynamics with cell shape regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental studies on PM topography manipulation.
  • Analysis of diverse cell shape change models (e.g., neutrophil migration, embryo cleavage, stem cell division).
  • Integration of findings on mechanical signaling and actin dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Local PM curvature is sufficient to induce Arp2/3 actin network formation.
  • PM topography remodeling is linked to Arp2/3 actin network induction across various cell types.
  • PM topography changes are influenced by external structures and internal cytoskeletal forces.

Conclusions:

  • Local plasma membrane folding and flattening are key mechanosensitive events.
  • Arp2/3 actin network induction is a downstream effect of PM curvature.
  • Understanding PM topography dynamics is essential for comprehending cell structure and function.