A platform for dissecting force sensitivity and multivalency in actin networks.

ABSTRACT: The physical structure and dynamics of cells are supported by micron-scale actin networks with diverse geometries, protein compositions, and mechanical properties. These networks are composed of actin filaments and numerous actin binding proteins (ABPs), many of which engage multiple filaments simultaneously to crosslink them into specific functional architectures. Mechanical force has been shown to modulate the interactions between several ABPs and individual actin filaments, but it is unclear how this phenomenon contributes to the emergent force-responsive functional dynamics of actin networks. Here, we engineer filament linker complexes and combine them with photo-micropatterning of myosin motor proteins to produce an in vitro reconstitution platform for examining how force impac

SUBMITTER: Levin JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10462062 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature