Actin machinery: Pushing the envelope G.G. Borisy and T.M. Svitkina Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 12(1):104-12, 2000

The reconstitution of microbial rocketing motility in vitro with purified proteins has recently established definitively that no myosin motor is required for protrusion. Instead, actin polymerization, in conjunction with a small number of proteins, is sufficient. A dendritic pattern of nucleation controlled by the Arp2/3 complex provides an efficient pushing force for lamellipodial motility.

Figure 1 (171 K) - Functional steps for the two major protrusive structures of crawling cells,--lamellipodia and filopodia