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. 2021 May 27;10:e68082. doi: 10.7554/eLife.68082

Figure 8. Model of DdMyo7 and VASP mediated filopodia initiation.

Figure 8.

(A) The leading edge of the cell has a branched actin network and DdMyo7 is mostly autoinhibited in the cytoplasm. DdMyo7 monomers cycle back to a closed state if they do not dimerize. (B) VASP polymerizes actin at the leading edge, organizing the filaments into linear, parallel bundles. The DdMyo7 autoinhibitory state is destabilized is in the presence of this dense network via binding to actin filaments. (C) The motor of autoinhibited DdMyo7 binds to actin within the VASP-actin network, and the tail undergoes partner-mediated dimerization due to close proximity of other myosins. (D) Cooperative actions of VASP (bundles and polymerizes) and DdMyo7 dimers (bundle) organize actin filaments into nascent filopodia that continue to elongate by actin polymerization.