ATP-Fueled Soft Gel Machine with Well-Oriented Structure Constructed Using Actin-Myosin System

Fibrous actomyosin gel was obtained by applying an external shear stress to actomyosin solution injected from a syringe and then performing chemical cross-linking. The actomyosin gel shrunk when ATP was added, and the shrinkage ratio was proportional to its ATPase activity. The shrinkage of the gel was repeatable at least for four times. Furthermore, the shrinkage of the gel enhanced the regular orientation of the actin and myosin filaments in the gel, which in turn enhanced the shrinking velocity of the gel. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 114: 2087-2092, 2009