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Ameboid Locomotion of the Cell



  • Ameboid locomotion is the movement of an entire cell in relation to its surrounding.

Mechanism of Ameboid Locomotion

Moving the Cell Membrane

At rear end of the cell…

endocytosis

Shrinkage of cell membrane, and formation of endocytotic vesicle

The vesicle is transported to the leading end of the cell

Inserted on the cell membrane by exocytosis

Cell membrane expands at leading end

Formation of pseudopodeum

Receptors on the cell membrane attach the cell firmly to the new area.

Moving the Cell Body

In the pseudopodium, network of actin and actin-binding proteins such as myosin is synthesized

This network contracts

Pulls the cell body towards pseudopodium

Thus the entire cell moves

Control of Ameboid Locomotion: Chemotaxis

Chemotactic Substance
  • Direction of movement is guided by chemicals called chemotactic substance.

  • Its concentration is higher near its source, and it gets lower away from the source.

  • The cell detects this concentration difference and decides which direction to move to.

Positive chemotaxis
  • The cell moves toward the higher concentration of the chemotactic substance i.e. towards the source of chemotactic substance.

  • This is more common.

Negative chemotaxis
  • The cell moves away from the source.

  • It's less common.

Cells Showing Ameboid Movement in the Body

  • White Blood Cells: To move from blood vessels to tissue.

  • Fibroblast: To move to the damaged area for repair.

  • Embryonic Cells: To spread the cells developed new tissues, organs, etc.

 

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