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Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

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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 Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

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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.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
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Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

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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 Filament Depolymerization01:19

Actin Filament Depolymerization

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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...
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Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

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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.
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...
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Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

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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
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins
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Signaling and actin waves at a glance.

Tatsat Banerjee1,2, Yu Deng1,2, Dhiman Sankar Pal1

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Center for Cell Dynamics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

Journal of Cell Science
|August 22, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Signaling and actin waves are key to cell dynamics. These waves, driven by biochemical networks, control cell migration and polarity, offering insights into cell behavior and organization.

Keywords:
Biophysical organizationCell migrationChemotaxisCortical wavesPattern formationSignal transduction

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Micromanipulation Techniques Allowing Analysis of Morphogenetic Dynamics and Turnover of Cytoskeletal Regulators
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Systems Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cellular processes exhibit spatiotemporal dynamics driven by signaling and cytoskeletal components.
  • These dynamics are visualized as propagating waves on the cell's ventral surface.
  • Understanding these waves is crucial for diverse cell physiological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the origin, mathematical basis, and function of signaling and actin waves.
  • To focus on the roles of these waves in cell migration and polarity.
  • To provide generalizable biophysical principles for subcellular organization and wave propagation.

Main Methods:

  • Systems biology and biophysics perspectives were employed.
  • Analysis of wave control over membrane protrusion morphologies.
  • Biochemical interaction analysis of components generating dynamic patterns.

Main Results:

  • Signaling and actin waves dictate membrane protrusion shapes and protein/lipid organization.
  • Excitable network models explain wave patterns and predict cell behavior.
  • Specific biochemical interactions underlie wave generation.

Conclusions:

  • Waves are fundamental to cell migration and polarity.
  • Mathematical models can predict cellular behavior based on wave dynamics.
  • Underlying biophysical principles govern subcellular organization and wave propagation.