Helmholtz Gemeinschaft

Search
Browse
Statistics
Feeds

Actin-based propulsion of spatially extended objects

[thumbnail of 13572oa.pdf] PDF - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
1MB

Item Type:Article
Title:Actin-based propulsion of spatially extended objects
Creators Name:Enculescu, M. and Falcke, M.
Abstract:We propose a mathematical model of the actin-based propulsion of spatially extended obstacles. It starts from the properties of individual actin filaments and includes transient attachment to the obstacle, polymerization as well as cross-linking. Two particular geometries are discussed, which apply to the motion of protein-coated beads in a cell-like medium and the leading edge of a cell protrusion, respectively. The model gives rise to both steady and saltatory movement of beads and can explain the experimentally observed transitions of the dynamic regime with changing bead radius and protein surface density. Several spatiotemporal patterns are obtained with a soft obstacle under tension, including the experimentally observed spontaneous emergence of lateral traveling waves in crawling cells. Thus, we suggest a unifying mechanism for systems that are currently described by differential concepts.
Keywords:Actin Filament, Dynamic Regimes, Extended Objects, Leading Edge, Protein Surface, Spatiotemporal Patterns, Traveling Wave
Source:New Journal of Physics
ISSN:1367-2630
Publisher:IOP Publishing
Volume:13
Page Range:053040
Date:May 2011
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/13/5/053040

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Open Access
MDC Library