Journal
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Volume 113, Issue 2, Pages 448-460Publisher
CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.06.003
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- University of Chicago Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (National Science Foundation) [1420709]
- Department of Defense through NDSEG
- National Institutes of Health [1F32GM113415-01]
- Institute for the Physics of Living Systems at the University College London
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Computer simulations can aid in understanding how collective materials properties emerge from interactions between simple constituents. Here, we introduce a coarse-grained model that enables simulation of networks of actin filaments, myosin motors, and cross-linking proteins at biologically relevant time and length scales. We demonstrate that the model qualitatively and quantitatively captures a suite of trends observed experimentally, including the statistics of filament fluctuations, and mechanical responses to shear, motor motilities, and network rearrangements. We use the simulation to predict the viscoelastic scaling behavior of cross-linked actin networks, characterize the trajectories of actin in a myosin motility assay, and develop order parameters to measure contractility of a simulated actin network. The model can thus serve as a platform for interpretation and design of cytoskeletal materials experiments, as well as for further development of simulations incorporating active elements.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available