Highly flexible PEG-LifeAct constructs act as tunable biomimetic actin crosslinkers.

ABSTRACT: In vitro studies of actin filament networks crosslinked with dynamic actin binding proteins provide critical insights into cytoskeletal mechanics as well as inspiration for new adaptive materials design. However, discontinuous variance in the physiochemical properties of actin binding proteins impedes holistic relationships between crosslinker molecular parameters, network structure, and mechanics. Bio-synthetic constructs composed of synthetic polymer backbones and actin binding motifs would enable crosslinkers with engineered physiochemical properties to directly target the desired structure-property relationships. As a proof of concept, bio-synthetic crosslinkers composed of highly flexible polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers functionalized with the actin binding peptide LifeAct,

SUBMITTER: Jorgenson TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10828923 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature