Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
Published on: October 25, 2017
Characterization of single semiflexible filaments under geometric constraints
S Köster1, J Kierfeld, T Pfohl
1Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Confinement effects on single semiflexible macromolecules are of central importance for a fundamental understanding of cellular processes involving biomacromolecules. To analyze the influence of confinement on the fluctuations of semiflexible macromolecules we study individual actin filaments in straight and curved microchannels. We experimentally characterize the segment distributions for fluctuating semiflexible filaments in microchannels as a function of the channel width. Moreover, the effect of channel curvature on the filament fluctuations is investigated. We find quantitative agreement between experimental results, Monte Carlo simulations, and the analytical description. This allows for determination of the persistence length of actin filaments, the deflection length, which characterizes the confinement effects, and the scaling exponents for the segment distribution of semiflexible macromolecules.
Related Concept Videos
Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
Formation of Intermediate Filaments
Studying the Cytoskeleton
The Structure of Intermediate Filaments
Intermediate filaments...
Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Deformations in a Symmetric Member in Bending
When the member is segmented into tiny cubic elements, it is observed that the primary stress...

