Work

Nonequilibrium Microtubule Fluctuations in a Model Cytoskeleton

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: Biological activity gives rise to nonequilibrium fluctuations in the cytoplasm of cells; however, there are few methods to directly measure these fluctuations. Using a reconstituted actin cytoskeleton, we show that the bending dynamics of embedded microtubules can be used to probe local stress fluctuations. We add myosin motors that drive the network out of equilibrium, resulting in an increased amplitude and modified time dependence of microtubule bending fluctuations. We show that this behavior results from steplike forces on the order of 10 pN driven by collective motor dynamics.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.100.118104

Authors: Clifford P. Brangwynne, Gijsje H. Koenderink, Frederick C. MacKintosh, David A. Weitz

Institutions: Harvard University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Division of Materials Research

Awards: IGERT: Integrated Training Program in Biomechanics, Multi-scale modeling of chemical-to-mechanical energy conversion in actin-based motility, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, G7679134096, Non-Equilibrium and Non-Linear Structure and Dynamics of Soft Materials