Regulated actin cytoskeleton assembly at filopodium tips controls their extension and retraction.
The extension and retraction of filopodia in response to extracellular cues is thought to be an important initial step that determines the direction of growth cone advance. We sought to understand how the dynamic behavior of the actin cytoskeleton is regulated to produce extension or retraction. By observing the movement of fiduciary marks on actin filaments in growth cones of a neuroblastoma cell line, we found that filopodium extension and retraction are governed by a balance between the rate of actin cytoskeleton assembly at the tip and retrograde flow. Both assembly and flow rate can vary with time in a single filopodium and between filopodia in a single growth cone. Regulation of assembly rate is the dominant factor in controlling filopodia behavior in our system.
Mallavarapu
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A
Department of Cell Biology, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Mitchison
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T
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D016764:Cell Polarity; D048429:Cell Size; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006207:Half-Life; D007700:Kinetics; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000378:metabolism*; D012235:Rhodamines; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000199:Actins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D012235:Rhodamines; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins