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Related Concept Videos

Formation of Intermediate Filaments00:57

Formation of Intermediate Filaments

Intermediate filaments are cytoskeletal proteins with higher tensile strength and flexibility than microfilaments and microtubules. Unlike the other two cytoskeletal proteins, intermediate filament formation lacks the enzymatic activity to hydrolyze nucleotides like ATP and GTP to generate energy for polymerization. Therefore, the formation of intermediate filaments is multistep self-assembly. The involvement of any accessory proteins in intermediate filament formation has not yet been reported.
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:18

Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments

Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin networks...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael acceptor.
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Origami Inspired Self-assembly of Patterned and Reconfigurable Particles
12:33

Origami Inspired Self-assembly of Patterned and Reconfigurable Particles

Published on: February 4, 2013

Polloidal chains from self-assembly of flattened particles.

Laura Mely Ramírez1, Charles A Michaelis, Javier E Rosado

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, 175 Fenske Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|August 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Researchers created flexible, stable chains of over 30 colloidal particles, termed "polloidal chains." These chains, modeled after polymer chains, offer a new experimental system for studying polymer dynamics.

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Area of Science:

  • Colloid science
  • Polymer physics
  • Materials science

Background:

  • Colloidal particles are widely studied for self-assembly.
  • Understanding interparticle forces is crucial for controlling self-assembled structures.
  • Existing models often lack the ability to create flexible and mechanically stable chains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To self-assemble flexible and mechanically stable chains of micrometer-size colloidal particles.
  • To model the interparticle forces governing the formation of these chains.
  • To explore the potential of these chains as experimental models for polymer chains.

Main Methods:

  • Self-assembly of polystyrene spheres under specific conditions.
  • Optical microscopy for observing particle chains.
  • Computational modeling of interparticle forces, including van der Waals and electrostatic interactions.
  • Analysis of bond energy and interparticle fluid gaps.

Main Results:

  • Successfully assembled flexible, mechanically stable chains of up to 30+ colloidal particles ("polloidal chains").
  • Identified critical system conditions yielding interparticle bond energies > 15kT.
  • Observed a fluid gap between particles enabling flexible, rotating bonds.
  • Chain formation followed linear condensation growth, consistent with polymer theory.

Conclusions:

  • "Polloidal chains" represent a novel self-assembled structure with tunable flexibility and stability.
  • The findings provide a framework for designing and fabricating colloidal chains with specific mechanical properties.
  • These chains serve as valuable, large-scale experimental models for fundamental polymer dynamics and behavior.