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Origins of Elasticity in Intermediate Filament Networks

Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: Intermediate filaments are common structural elements found in abundance in all metazoan cells, where they form networks that contribute to the elasticity. Here, we report measurements of the linear and nonlinear viscoelasticity of networks of two distinct intermediate filaments, vimentin and neurofilaments. Both exhibit predominantly elastic behavior with strong nonlinear strain stiffening. We demonstrate that divalent ions behave as effective cross-linkers for both networks, and that the elasticity of these networks is consistent with the theory for that of semiflexible polymers.
DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.104.058101
Authors: Yi-Chia Lin, Norman Y. Yao, Chase P. Broedersz, Harald Herrmann, Fred C. MacKintosh, David A. Weitz
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Division of Materials Research
Awards: G2075550470, A GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE AND RELATED SCIENCES, 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
OpenAlex ID: W2123676567
FWCI: 5.737
Cites: 39
Cited by: 224
Related to: 10