Migrating cells exert traction forces when moving. Amoeboid cell migration is a common type of cell migration that appears in many physiological and pathological processes and is performed by a wide variety of cell types. Understanding the coupling of the biochemistry and mechanics underlying the process of migration has the potential to guide the development of pharmacological treatment or genetic manipulations to treat a wide range of diseases. The measurement of the spatiotemporal evolution of the traction forces that produce the movement is an important aspect for the characterization of the locomotion mechanics. There are several methods to calculate the traction forces exerted by the cells. Currently the most commonly used ones are traction force microscopy methods based on the measurement of the deformation induced by the cells on elastic substrate on which they are moving. Amoeboid cells migrate by implementing a motility cycle based on the sequential repetition of four phases. In this paper, we review the role that specific cytoskeletal components play in the regulation of the cell migration mechanics. We investigate the role of specific cytoskeletal components regarding the ability of the cells to perform the motility cycle effectively and the generation of traction forces. The actin nucleation in the leading edge of the cell, carried by the ARP2/3 complex activated through the SCAR/WAVE complex, has shown to be fundamental to the execution of the cyclic movement and to the generation of the traction forces. The protein PIR121, a member of the SCAR/WAVE complex, is essential to the proper regulation of the periodic movement and the protein SCAR, also included in the SCAR/WAVE complex, is necessary for the generation of the traction forces during migration. The protein Myosin II, an important F-actin cross-linker and motor protein, is essential to cytoskeletal contractility and to the generation and proper organization of the traction forces during migration.
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September 2014
Review Articles
Cytoskeletal Mechanics Regulating Amoeboid Cell Locomotion
Begoña Álvarez-González,
Begoña Álvarez-González
Research Assistant
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
e-mail: bealvare@ucsd.edu
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
e-mail: bealvare@ucsd.edu
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Effie Bastounis,
Effie Bastounis
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
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Ruedi Meili,
Ruedi Meili
Research Scientist
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
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Juan C. del Álamo,
Juan C. del Álamo
Associate Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
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Richard Firtel,
Richard Firtel
Distinguished Professor
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
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Juan C. Lasheras
Juan C. Lasheras
1
Distinguished Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
Bioengineering Department,
e-mail: jlasheras@ucsd.edu
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
Bioengineering Department,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
e-mail: jlasheras@ucsd.edu
1Corresponding author.
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Begoña Álvarez-González
Research Assistant
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
e-mail: bealvare@ucsd.edu
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
e-mail: bealvare@ucsd.edu
Effie Bastounis
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
Ruedi Meili
Research Scientist
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
Juan C. del Álamo
Associate Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
Richard Firtel
Distinguished Professor
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
Division of Cell and Developmental Biology,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
Juan C. Lasheras
Distinguished Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
Bioengineering Department,
e-mail: jlasheras@ucsd.edu
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
Institute for Engineering in Medicine,
Bioengineering Department,
University of California
, San Diego
,La Jolla, CA 92093-0411
e-mail: jlasheras@ucsd.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received July 7, 2013; final manuscript received October 9, 2013; published online June 5, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Ellen Kuhl.
Appl. Mech. Rev. Sep 2014, 66(5): 050804 (14 pages)
Published Online: June 5, 2014
Article history
Received:
July 7, 2013
Revision Received:
October 9, 2013
Connected Content
Citation
Álvarez-González, B., Bastounis, E., Meili, R., del Álamo, J. C., Firtel, R., and Lasheras, J. C. (June 5, 2014). "Cytoskeletal Mechanics Regulating Amoeboid Cell Locomotion." ASME. Appl. Mech. Rev. September 2014; 66(5): 050804. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4026249
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