Abstract
Actin dynamics play a central role in the extension of the leading edge of crawling cells and neurons as well as in the motility of certain parasites. Forward movement is driven by actin growth from the barbed end, close to the membrane, coupled with depolymerization from the pointed end, causing a directional flow of actin monomers. Work on GTPases has shown that the organization of filamentous actin into a lamellipodial dendritic brush requires Rac, filopodial bundle formation requires Cdc42, and actin stress fibre formation requires Rho. But, what is the fine-structure of actin at the leading edge? This clearly must be important – considering the mechanical work required to push the membrane forward. The textbook shows that long actin filaments protrude at the leading edge. But how can this create a pushing force, and is this so?Following up on previous work, Svitkina and Borisy show that actin forms a very structured and finely meshed network of short filaments at the leading edge1xArp2/3 complex and actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin in dendritic organization and treadmilling of actin filament array in lamellipodia. Svitkina, T.M. and Borisy, G.G. J. Cell Biol. 1999; 145: 1009–1026Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (699)See all
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