Signaling and actin waves at a glance

Waves of signaling and cytoskeletal components, which can be easily seen propagating on the ventral surface of a cell, are a systemic feature of biochemical networks that define the spatiotemporal dynamics of diverse cell physiological processes. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we summarize the origin, mathematical basis, and function of signaling and actin waves from systems biology and biophysics perspectives, focusing on cell migration and polarity. We describe how waves control membrane protrusion morphologies, how different proteins and lipids are organized within the waves by distinct mechanisms, and how excitable network-based mathematical models can explain wave patterns and predict cell behavior. We further delineate how specific components interact biochemically to generate these dynamic patterns. Finally, we provide a set of generalizable underlying biophysical principles to describe the exquisite subcellular organization of signaling and cytoskeletal events, membrane symmetry breaking, protein compartmentalization and wave propagation.