Cell cortex

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Glossary Term: Cell Cortex (i.e actin cortex, cortical actin)

A concentrated layer (~50-100 nm thick) of actin filaments that lie longitudinally and roughly parallel to each other just beneath the plasma membrane. These so called “cortical filaments” have been described in numerous cell types [1]. Migrating fibroblasts grown in 2D tissue culture have more cortical filaments on the dorsal (upper) surface than the ventral (lower) surface and they are concentrated towards the trailing edges [1] (see Figure below, panel B).

Figure: Cell cortex. (A) Cortical actin filaments (shown in red) are concentrated just beneath the plasma membrane in most cell types. (B) In migrating cells such as fibroblasts (shown here), the cortical actin is concentrated at the trailing edge.