Work

Atomic Force Microscopy Reveals Drebrin Induced Remodeling of F-Actin with Subnanometer Resolution

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: We show by high-resolution atomic force microscopy analysis that drebrin A (a major neuronal actin binding protein) induced F-actin structural and mechanical remodeling involves significant changes in helical twist and filament stiffness (+55% persistence length). These results provide evidence of a unique mechanical role of drebrin in the dendrites, contribute to current molecular-level understanding of the properties of the neuronal cytoskeleton, and reflect the role of biomechanics at the nanoscale, to modulate nanofilament-structure assemblies such as F-actin.

Source: Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/nl104159v

Authors: Shivani Sharma, Elena E. Grintsevich, Martin L. Phillips, Emil Reisler, James K. Gimzewski