Amoeboid movement

Amoeboid movement is cell locomotion produced by changing shape and extending temporary protrusions. Cells use it to move across surfaces or through tissues.

Actin polymerization: The assembly of actin monomers into filaments, driven by nucleotide-dependent changes in actin. Actin filament growth pushes the cell membrane outward to form leading protrusions.
Actin: A highly conserved protein that forms filaments in the cytoskeleton and supports cell shape and movement. Its dynamic filaments form the protrusive framework behind many amoeboid movements.
Leukocyte migration: The movement of white blood cells through blood vessels and tissues, especially during immune responses. Leukocytes use amoeboid movement to reach infection and inflammation sites.
Mesenchymal migration: A mode of cell migration characterized by elongated shape, strong matrix adhesion, and protease-assisted passage through tissue. It contrasts with amoeboid movement in cell shape, adhesion strength, and dependence on matrix remodeling.
Myosin II: A motor protein that uses ATP to move along actin filaments and generate contractile force. Actomyosin contraction helps pull the cell body forward and retract its rear.
Microtubule: A hollow cytoskeletal filament assembled from tubulin that helps organize intracellular transport and cell structure. Microtubules help coordinate polarity and signaling in migrating cells.
Neutrophil: A short-lived white blood cell that engulfs microbes and is rapidly recruited to sites of infection. Neutrophils are prominent examples of fast amoeboid movement in tissues.
Ciliary locomotion: Cell movement driven by the coordinated beating of hair-like cilia. Unlike shape-changing amoeboid movement, ciliary locomotion uses repeated beating of specialized projections.
Focal adhesion: A protein complex that links the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix through integrins. Adhesive contacts give crawling cells traction against a surface.
Integrin: A cell-surface receptor that connects extracellular matrix molecules to intracellular signaling and the cytoskeleton. Integrins can anchor migrating cells to matrix and transmit traction-related signals.

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