Polar­ity

For cells to move in a spe­cific direc­tion they must orga­nize their cytoskele­ton to gen­er­ate a pro­trud­ing front and a retract­ing rear. This process of polar­iza­tion requires micro­tubules, which inter­face with the actin cytoskele­ton, at least in part, via the sub­strate adhe­sion machin­ery.

Micro­tubules dis­as­sem­bly leads to the loss of a polar­ized cell form.

Read Chap­ter

Micro­tubules grow into adhe­sion sites at the cell periph­ery.

Read Chap­ter

Micro­tubules influ­ence the size and turnover of adhe­sion sites.

Read Chap­ter

Micro­tubules influ­ence polar­ity by locally inhibit­ing con­trac­til­ity at adhe­sion sites.

Read Chap­ter

The inter­ac­tion between micro­tubules and sub­strate adhe­sions sug­gests one route of cross-talk between the micro­tubule and actin sys­tems

Read Chap­ter

Pro­teins at the tips of micro­tubules could con­vey sig­nals to adhe­sion sites

Read Chap­ter