Work

Dendritic Actin Filament Nucleation Causes Traveling Waves and Patches

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: The polymerization of actin via branching at a cell membrane containing nucleation-promoting factors is simulated using a stochastic-growth methodology. The polymerized-actin distribution displays three types of behavior: (a) traveling waves, (b) moving patches, and (c) random fluctuations. Increasing actin concentration causes a transition from patches to waves. The waves and patches move by a treadmilling mechanism not involving myosin II. The effects of downregulation of key proteins on actin wave behavior are evaluated.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.104.228102

Author: Anders E. Carlsson

Institution: Washington University in St. Louis

Language: English

Topic: Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Award: Control of Actin Assembly and Cell Migration by Actin-Regulating Proteins