page_title: Stress fiber
section_title: 2. Migration
hierarchical_section_title: Stress fiber / Roles and associated proteins / 2. Migration
caption_attribution_description: English: Ventral stress fibers, Transverse arcs, and Dorsal stress fibers
context_page_description: Stress fibers are contractile actin bundles found in non-muscle cells. They are composed of actin and non-muscle myosin II, and also contain various crosslinking proteins, such as α-actinin, to form a highly regulated actomyosin structure within non-muscle cells. Stress fibers have been shown to play an important role in cellular contractility, providing force for a number of functions such as cell adhesion, migration and morphogenesis.
context_section_description: An essential feature of many cells is their ability to migrate towards certain mechanical (Durotaxis) or chemical (Chemotaxis) stimuli. Cell migration takes place through the concerted action of three Rho family GTPases: Rho, Rac, and Cdc42. When GTP-bound, Rac will cause the formation of lamellipodia, and Cdc42 will cause the formation of filopodia, thus promoting cell migration. In the migrating cell, there are three main types of stress fibers: ventral stress fibers, transverse arcs, and dorsal stress fibers.  Ventral stress fibers are associated with focal adhesions at both ends, are located on the ventral surface of the cell, and function in adhesion and contraction. Transverse arcs are not directly linked to focal adhesions, and typically flow from the leading edge of the cell, back towards the cell centre. Dorsal stress fibers are located at the leading edge of the cell. They attach to focal adhesions on the ventral surface of the leading edge, and extend dorsally, towards the cell centre to attach to transverse arcs. During cell migration, actin filaments within stress fibers will be recycled by a process of retrograde actin flow. The mechanism of dissolution of the focal adhesion itself is poorly understood.
caption: Three types of stress fibers: ventral stress fibers, transverse arcs, and dorsal stress fibers
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