Crawling movement driven by actin polymerisation at the leading edge, adhesion turnover and rear contraction.
Cells extend lamellipodia powered by Arp2/3-driven branched actin, form focal adhesions to the matrix through integrins, then contract the rear using myosin II. Chemotaxis guides them along gradients of attractants.
Migration underpins embryonic development, wound healing and immune surveillance, and is hijacked in metastasis.
Crawling movement driven by actin polymerisation at the leading edge, adhesion turnover and rear contraction.
Cell Migration is one of the 52 topics in Cell Biology. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Motor Proteins, Active Transport, Extracellular Matrix.
Neutrophils crawl toward bacterial peptides at sites of infection.
Work through the Beginner topics in Cell Biology first, such as Cell Theory, Prokaryotic Cell, Eukaryotic Cell, then return to Cell Migration. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
The closest topics to Cell Migration are Motor Proteins, Active Transport, Extracellular Matrix, Cytoskeleton. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Cell Migration. To practise the whole of Cell Biology, use the Cell Biology quiz.
Cell Migration: Crawling movement driven by actin polymerisation at the leading edge, adhesion turnover and rear contraction. Motor Proteins: Kinesin, dynein and myosin convert ATP energy into directed movement along microtubules or actin filaments. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Motor Proteins and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Cell Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Kinesin, dynein and myosin convert ATP energy into directed movement along microtubules or actin filaments.
🔬 Cell BiologyMovement of substances against their gradient using energy, usually ATP, via carrier proteins called pumps.
🔬 Cell BiologyA network of collagen and glycoproteins outside animal cells that provides support and cell signalling cues.
🔬 Cell BiologyA network of protein filaments that maintains cell shape, anchors organelles and enables movement.
🔬 Cell Biology