Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

OaAEP1-Mediated Enzymatic Synthesis and Immobilization of Polymerized Protein for Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy
Published on: February 5, 2020
Spatial propagation of protein polymerization
S I A Cohen1, L Rajah2, C H Yoon2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
None:
We consider the spatial dependence of filamentous protein self-assembly. Through studying the cases where the spreading of aggregated material is dominated either by diffusion or by growth, we derive analytical results for the spatial evolution of filamentous protein aggregation, which we validate against Monte Carlo simulations. Moreover, we compare the predictions of our theory with experimental measurements of two systems for which we identify the propagation as either growth or diffusion controlled. Our results connect the macroscopic observables that characterize the spatial propagation of protein self-assembly with the underlying microscopic processes and provide physical limits on spatial propagation and prionlike behavior associated with protein aggregation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane
Actin Polymerization
The nucleation phase involves forming a stable nucleus consisting of three actin monomers to form a new actin filament. Actin-binding proteins such as formins and Arp2/3 complex help filament growth post-nucleation. The Formins form straight...
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...

