The cytoskeleton is a pivotal player in the cell--the various filaments and their associated regulatory and motor proteins generate a rich variety of movements essential for cell survival and function as well as providing structural integrity for both the cell and the nucleus. Among the most notable cytoskeletal functions are whole cell migration, cell division and chromosome and organelle movements. Astonishing progress has been made in the past few years not only in defining the molecular basis for these movements but also in establishing interconnections between various cytoskeletal components as well as the fundamental conservation of proteins and basic motile mechanisms throughout phylogeny. The collection of reviews in this issue highlights these trends in the field.
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