Blasting Off on an Actin Comet Tail

Caitlin Sedwick

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000195

Abstract

Blasting Off on an Actin Comet Tail

Highlights

Cells have structure and the ability to move, thanks in part to the actin cytoskeleton, a dynamic cellular scaffolding that facilitates many cellular processes
Actin is mostly concentrated near the outer membrane of the cell, where it is involved in such processes as the formation of membrane protrusions at the leading edges of migrating cells, the movement of certain intracellular vesicles such as endosomes, and the generation of the cleavage furrow during cell division
In this issue of PLoS Biology, Mark Dayel and colleagues combine computer modeling with in vitro experiments to explain some of the fundamental dynamics of actin polymerization that underlie these diverse phenomena

Summary

Introduction

Cells have structure and the ability to move, thanks in part to the actin cytoskeleton, a dynamic cellular scaffolding that facilitates many cellular processes. These filaments grow as free actin molecules are added to the end of the chain until actin capping proteins terminate the process. This phenomenon can be reproduced in vitro using spherical plastic beads coated with the bacterial protein ActA (which potentiates Arp2/3 activity); when added to a solution of free actin, Arp2/3, and capping proteins, the beads grow comet tails.

Results

Conclusion