DOI: 10.1126/stke.4002007re5. Filopodia: The Fingers That Do the Walking

Filopodia: The Fingers That Do the Walking

10.1126/stke.4002007re5

Crossref journal-article

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Science's STKE (221)

Abstract

Filopodia are actin-based structures composed of parallel bundles of actin filaments and various actin-associated proteins, and they play important roles in cell-cell signaling, guidance toward chemoattractants, and adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Two mechanisms for the formation of filopodia have been suggested, each using different sets of actin-regulating proteins, creating some controversy in the field. New molecules, some of unknown functions, have also been implicated in filopodium formation, suggesting that other possible mechanisms of filopodium formation exist. We discuss established and novel proteins that mediate the formation and dynamics of filopodia, different mechanisms of filopodium formation, and the various functions that distinct filopodia perform.

Bibliography

Gupton, S. L., & Gertler, F. B. (2007). Filopodia: The Fingers That Do the Walking. Scienceâs STKE, 2007(400).

Authors 2

Stephanie L. Gupton (first)
Frank B. Gertler (additional)

References 106 Referenced 174

Dates

Type	When
Created	17 years, 11 months ago (Sept. 23, 2007, 8:03 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 7 months ago (Jan. 16, 2024, 1:22 p.m.)
Indexed	1 month ago (July 23, 2025, 8:25 a.m.)
Issued	18 years ago (Aug. 21, 2007)
Published	18 years ago (Aug. 21, 2007)
Published Print	18 years ago (Aug. 21, 2007)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Gupton_2007, title={Filopodia: The Fingers That Do the Walking}, volume={2007}, ISSN={1525-8882}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/stke.4002007re5}, DOI={10.1126/stke.4002007re5}, number={400}, journal={Science’s STKE}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Gupton, Stephanie L. and Gertler, Frank B.}, year={2007}, month=aug }

JSON

{
  "indexed": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2025,
        7,
        23
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2025-07-23T12:25:48Z",
    "timestamp": 1753273548301
  },
  "reference-count": 106,
  "publisher": "American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)",
  "issue": "400",
  "content-domain": {
    "domain": [],
    "crossmark-restriction": false
  },
  "published-print": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2007,
        8,
        21
      ]
    ]
  },
  "abstract": "<jats:p>Filopodia are actin-based structures composed of parallel bundles of actin filaments and various actin-associated proteins, and they play important roles in cell-cell signaling, guidance toward chemoattractants, and adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Two mechanisms for the formation of filopodia have been suggested, each using different sets of actin-regulating proteins, creating some controversy in the field. New molecules, some of unknown functions, have also been implicated in filopodium formation, suggesting that other possible mechanisms of filopodium formation exist. We discuss established and novel proteins that mediate the formation and dynamics of filopodia, different mechanisms of filopodium formation, and the various functions that distinct filopodia perform.</jats:p>",
  "DOI": "10.1126/stke.4002007re5",
  "type": "journal-article",
  "created": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2007,
        9,
        24
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2007-09-24T00:03:13Z",
    "timestamp": 1190592193000
  },
  "source": "Crossref",
  "is-referenced-by-count": 174,
  "title": "Filopodia: The Fingers That Do the Walking",
  "prefix": "10.1126",
  "volume": "2007",
  "author": [
    {
      "given": "Stephanie L.",
      "family": "Gupton",
      "sequence": "first",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Department of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "Frank B.",
      "family": "Gertler",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Department of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "member": "221",
  "reference": [
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_1_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0962-8924(01)02237-1"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_2_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1006/scel.1994.1020"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_3_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0960-9822(00)00749-1"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_4_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1146/annurev.biophys.29.1.545"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_5_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.145.5.1009"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_6_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.119.5.1219"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_7_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.146.5.1097"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_8_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.ceb.2005.11.002"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_9_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1091/mbc.e05-11-1088"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_10_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200210174"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_11_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.03335"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_12_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200609176"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_13_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200607127"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_14_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/361721a0"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_15_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1162/0899766041941934"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_16_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200503140"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_17_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/323712a0"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_18_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1177/1073858403252683"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_19_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-03-01140.1996"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_20_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.02897"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_21_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-05-01794.2002"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_22_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/dev.002345"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_23_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1523/JNEUROSCI.08-04-01454.1988"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_24_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.127.5.1407"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_25_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-01-00384.1994"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_26_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/ncb875"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_27_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1006/dbio.1997.8707"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_28_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0960-9822(00)00796-X"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_29_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/dev.02849"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_30_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0960-9822(00)80015-9"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_31_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81559-7"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_32_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/dev.105.3.505"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_33_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-18-08071.2002"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_34_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1126/science.1137904"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_35_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-16-06159.2001"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_36_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.111.5.1949"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_37_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.67.3.725"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_38_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.115.7.1441"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_39_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-21-08900.1998"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_40_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.cub.2006.11.022"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_41_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1042/BST0331256"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_42_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0896-6273(04)00108-4"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_43_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1529/biophysj.105.071480"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_44_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0014-5793(99)00546-3"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_45_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1074/jbc.274.33.23549"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_46_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1073/pnas.0511243103"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_47_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.003913"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_48_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.150.6.1311"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_49_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80732-1"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_50_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.cub.2005.01.011"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_51_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.neuron.2004.05.015"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_52_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/ncb1001-897"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_53_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1093/embo-reports/kve197"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_54_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1091/mbc.e06-11-0990"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_55_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.cell.2004.07.019"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_56_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81341-0"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_57_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05264.x"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_58_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0896-6273(00)81092-2"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_59_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1074/jbc.M503957200"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_60_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0960-9822(98)70199-X"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_61_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80884-3"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_62_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00731-6"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_63_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200303191"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_64_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.cub.2006.03.083"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_65_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1074/jbc.M209107200"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_66_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1073/pnas.0602443103"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_67_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1002/1097-0169(200102)48:2<109::AID-CM1002>3.0.CO;2-G"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_68_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "first-page": "980",
      "DOI": "10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.66030980.x",
      "volume": "66",
      "year": "1996",
      "unstructured": "Y. Sasaki, K. Hayashi, T. Shirao, R. Ishikawa, K. Kohama, Inhibition by drebrin of the actin-bundling activity of brain fascin, a protein localized in filopodia of growth cones. J. Neurochem. 66, 980\u2013988 (1996).8769857",
      "journal-title": "J. Neurochem."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_69_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/0014-4827(80)90295-5"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_70_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200603013"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_71_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.ceb.2003.10.019"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_72_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.cell.2005.11.038"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_73_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.cell.2004.09.039"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_74_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/ncb1266"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_75_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.cub.2003.09.057"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_76_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1074/jbc.M510923200"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_77_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0960-9822(03)00170-2"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_78_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1074/jbc.M510277200"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_79_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1091/mbc.e06-05-0466"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_80_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0960-9822(01)00506-1"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_81_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/0092-8674(95)90370-4"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_82_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1091/mbc.e05-01-0061"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_83_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1042/BST0321115"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_84_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/MCB.15.4.1942"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_85_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.00208"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_86_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1042/bj20031041"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_87_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/ncb762"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_88_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.113.19.3439"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_89_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.04.167"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_90_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/ncb1136"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_91_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/nature02834"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_92_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0925-4773(01)00383-5"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_93_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/73488"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_94_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1046/j.1365-2443.2000.00300.x"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_95_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/23722"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_96_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.00462"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_97_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1074/jbc.M606814200"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_98_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/35047107"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_99_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/ncb1502"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_100_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1074/jbc.M212113200"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_101_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/j.bbalip.2006.06.015"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_102_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200203038"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_103_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1371/journal.pone.0000400"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_104_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1242/jcs.03384"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_105_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1083/jcb.200111032"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_106_2",
      "unstructured": "We thank M. Barzik and J. Bear for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by Jane Coffins Child Memorial postdoctoral research fellowships (S.L.G.) and NIH grant GM58801 (F.B.G.)."
    }
  ],
  "container-title": "Science's STKE",
  "original-title": [],
  "language": "en",
  "link": [
    {
      "URL": "https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/stke.4002007re5",
      "content-type": "unspecified",
      "content-version": "vor",
      "intended-application": "similarity-checking"
    }
  ],
  "deposited": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2024,
        1,
        16
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2024-01-16T18:22:14Z",
    "timestamp": 1705429334000
  },
  "score": 1,
  "resource": {
    "primary": {
      "URL": "https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/stke.4002007re5"
    }
  },
  "subtitle": [],
  "short-title": [],
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2007,
        8,
        21
      ]
    ]
  },
  "references-count": 106,
  "journal-issue": {
    "issue": "400",
    "published-print": {
      "date-parts": [
        [
          2007,
          8,
          21
        ]
      ]
    }
  },
  "alternative-id": [
    "10.1126/stke.4002007re5"
  ],
  "URL": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/stke.4002007re5",
  "relation": {},
  "ISSN": [
    "1525-8882"
  ],
  "subject": [],
  "container-title-short": "Sci. STKE",
  "published": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2007,
        8,
        21
      ]
    ]
  }
}