Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

2.8K
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...
2.8K
Actin Filament Depolymerization01:19

Actin Filament Depolymerization

3.0K
Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
3.0K
Actin Polymerization01:42

Actin Polymerization

6.2K
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.
The nucleation phase involves forming a stable nucleus consisting of three actin monomers to form a new actin filament. Actin-binding proteins such as formins and Arp2/3 complex help filament growth post-nucleation. The Formins form straight...
6.2K
Disassembly of Intermediate Filaments01:35

Disassembly of Intermediate Filaments

2.0K
Intermediate filaments (IFs) do not undergo spontaneous disassembly. Enzymes, kinases, and phosphatases add and remove phosphates from specific sites to regulate their disassembly. The IF concentration in the cytoplasm also regulates the disassembly. If the concentration crosses a threshold, it activates the protein kinases in the vicinity, allowing the phosphorylation of IFs.
Keratin proteins, found at the cell periphery near cell junctions, undergo a cycle of assembly and disassembly. In Type...
2.0K
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

2.9K
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...
2.9K
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

2.3K
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.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
2.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Collapsible scissored surfaces.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Reversible superdeformability of hiPSC epithelial cortinoids.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Rotational 3D printing of active-passive filaments and lattices with programmable shape morphing.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Dynamics of Marangoni-driven elliptical Janus particles.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

Modeling tumor transport and growth with poroelastic biopolymer networks.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

Postural control in an upright snake.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2025

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
08:02

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles

Published on: May 5, 2022

2.5K

Kinetically arrested periodic clusters in active filament arrays.

Sonu Kharayat1, Prashant K Purohit2, L Mahadevan3

  • 1Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. raghu@phy.iitb.ac.in.

Soft Matter
|May 1, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Active semi-flexible filaments self-assemble into ordered clusters. Filament activity, geometry, and elasticity control cluster size, shape, and spacing, revealing key self-assembly mechanisms.

More Related Videos

Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy
09:38

Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy

Published on: July 1, 2021

1.3K
Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
09:10

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
08:02

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles

Published on: May 5, 2022

2.5K
Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy
09:38

Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy

Published on: July 1, 2021

1.3K
Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
09:10

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.0K

Area of Science:

  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Active Matter Systems
  • Polymer Dynamics

Background:

  • Ordered arrays of active semi-flexible filaments are common in biological systems.
  • Understanding their self-assembly into ordered structures is crucial for various applications.
  • Previous studies have explored filament dynamics but lacked detailed analysis of cluster formation in ordered arrays.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dynamics and pattern formation of ordered arrays of active semi-flexible filaments.
  • To elucidate the physical mechanisms governing the self-assembly of these filaments into compact clusters.
  • To establish relationships between system parameters and emergent cluster characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized two-dimensional Brownian dynamics simulations.
  • Modeled filaments as connected chains of polar active particles with follower forces.
  • Analyzed the influence of activity, array geometry, filament elasticity, and grafting density.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated self-assembly into regularly spaced, kinetically arrested compact clusters for specific parameter ranges.
  • Identified crucial roles of activity, array geometry, filament elasticity, and grafting density in influencing cluster size, shape, and spacing.
  • Observed self-similar cluster shapes with activity-dependent scaling exponents for varying grafting densities.

Conclusions:

  • Derived theoretical expressions linking cluster number and spacing to filament activity, elasticity, and grafting density.
  • Provided insights into the initiation of clustering through the balance of steric, friction, active, and elastic forces.
  • Highlighted the importance of these forces in shaping and stabilizing emergent clusters.