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Analyses of Actin Dynamics, Clutch Coupling and Traction Force for Growth Cone Advance
Published on: October 21, 2021
Cytoskeleton-membrane interactions in neuronal growth cones: a finite analysis study
Kathleen B Allen1, F Mert Sasoglu, Bradley E Layton
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
|December 24, 2008
Summary
Finite element analysis reveals how cytoskeletal filaments interact with neuronal membranes. Actin filaments deform but do not cause growth, and membrane rupture depends on radius and stress.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding neuronal growth requires knowledge of cytoskeleton-membrane mechanical interactions.
- These interactions influence nervous system development, injury response, and tissue engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the mechanical interactions between cytoskeletal filaments (actin, microtubules) and the neuronal cell membrane.
- To compute membrane deformation, stress, and strain under filament pressure.
Main Methods:
- Finite element analysis was employed to simulate stress and deformation.
- Simulations incorporated parameters for flexural rigidities of actin and tubulin, and membrane mechanical properties.
Main Results:
- A single actin filament can deform the membrane but does not induce growth.
- Filaments with buckling strength similar to actin do not exceed 3% areal strain, preventing rupture.
- Smaller membrane radii (50 nm) withstand higher stress (4 MPa) than larger radii (250 nm, 2.5 MPa) before rupture.
Conclusions:
- Cytoskeletal mechanics play a role in membrane deformation, but not directly in neuronal growth.
- Membrane rupture is dependent on applied stress and membrane geometry.
- This modeling approach can inform studies on cytoskeletal protein evolution and nanoscale probe interactions.
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