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Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...

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The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton

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Published on: March 10, 2023

Force percolation of contractile active gels.

José Alvarado¹, Michael Sheinman, Abhinav Sharma

¹Systems Biophysics Department, AMOLF, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands. g.koenderink@amolf.nl.

|August 17, 2017

Summary

Living systems use cytoskeletal active gels, like actin and myosin, to generate contractile forces. A new framework using percolation theory explains how motor activity and network connectivity drive this contraction.

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Soft Matter Physics
Cell Biology

Background:

Living systems are active soft matter, with cells and tissues acting as viscoelastic materials.
The cytoskeleton, an active gel of filaments, crosslinks, and molecular motors, powers cellular autonomous behavior.
Molecular motors, though small, collectively generate significant contractile forces across biological scales.

Purpose of the Study:

To review experimental and theoretical studies on contractile active gels, specifically actin-myosin systems.
To explain the generic tendency of actin-myosin systems to contract, contrasting with other active soft matter.
To propose a unifying framework for understanding contractile active gels.

Main Methods:

Review of experimental studies on reconstituted actin-myosin model systems.
Analysis of theoretical models incorporating motor activity and network connectivity.
Application of percolation theory concepts to active gel behavior.

Main Results:

Actin-myosin systems exhibit a unique tendency to contract, unlike ordered patterns in other active soft matter.
A mechanical interplay between motor activity and network connectivity governs contractile behavior.
Percolation models, extended for motor activity, explain the interplay and network effects.

Conclusions:

A proposed state diagram, based on percolation theory, unifies experimental observations of actin-myosin gels.
This framework offers insights into cellular shape changes.
The findings provide design principles for synthetic active materials.