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. 2012 Sep 14;7(9):e45085. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045085

Figure 8. mDia2:DIP-driven mechanism for bleb and lobopodia formation: bulbous structures driving amoeboid motility in 3D matrices.

Figure 8

1. Cortical Maintenance: activated mDia2 maintains the F-actin cortex underlying the plasma membrane (PM); 2. Cortical disruption and bleb initiation: DIP binding to the mDia2 FH2 domain disrupts F-actin assembly and bundling, initiating cortical weakening and bleb expansion; 3. Re-establishing the bleb F-actin cortex: Upon bleb expansion, mDia2 enters the bleb and through interaction with activated Rho GTPases, re-establishes the F-actin cortex underlying the bleb; and 4a. Bleb retraction ensues, driven, in part, by ROCK and myosin-based contractility; 4b. Compound bleb formation: DIP binding the mDia2 FH2 domain at the rim of the bleb (noted as * in the inset) initiates a secondary break in the bleb cortex, leading to compound bleb, or lobopodia formation.