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Related Experiment Videos

Dynamics of membranes driven by actin polymerization.

Nir S Gov1, Ajay Gopinathan

  • 1Department of Chemical Physics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel 76100. nirgov@wisemail.weizmann.ac.il

Biophysical Journal
|October 22, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Cellular stimulation drives dynamic membrane activity, forming structures like lamellipodia and filopodia. A new model explains this by linking membrane dynamics, actin polymerization, and activator diffusion, predicting cell shape changes.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biophysics
  • Theoretical biology

Background:

  • Stimulated motile cells exhibit dynamic membrane structures (lamellipodia, filopodia, ruffles).
  • These structures arise from actin cytoskeleton polymerization driven by membrane-bound activators like Cdc42 and PIP2.
  • The formation involves coupling membrane dynamics, activators, and protrusive forces.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a simplified model of membrane dynamics under actin polymerization forces.
  • To investigate how activator density influences membrane structure formation.
  • To explain the emergence of complex cellular protrusions.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a computational model for membrane dynamics.
  • Incorporated actin polymerization forces dependent on local activator density.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzed the role of spontaneous membrane curvature in model predictions.

    • Main Results:

    • The model predicts wavelike membrane motion (ruffling, actin waves) or instability leading to filopodia formation.
    • Results depend on spontaneous membrane curvature linked to activators.
    • The model quantitatively explains existing experimental observations.

    Conclusions:

    • A simple biophysical model can explain complex cell membrane dynamics.
    • The interplay between membrane curvature, activator diffusion, and actin polymerization governs cell protrusion formation.
    • The model offers testable predictions for future experimental validation.