title: Actin-dependent motile forces and cell motility.
abstract: Force arising from actin polymerization and myosin activity drives a number of different actin-based cell movements. Several new reports support previous data suggesting that actin polymerization drives lamellipodial protrusion and bacterial propulsion, and one report describes a more indirect role for actin assembly in axonal elongation. The major new findings of the past year concerning possible motility roles for myosin describe myosin-driven protrusion of cell margins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0450.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Mitchison
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Theriot
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008954:Models, Biological; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009218:Myosins