Actin filament assembly driven by distributive polymerases clustered on membrane surfaces.

ABSTRACT: Actin filaments created by the Arp2/3 complex form branched networks, that grow and push against cellular membranes. We employ theory and simulation to describe how membrane surfaces accelerate filament assembly via clustering of proteins that bind actin monomers and/or profilin-actin complexes. Briefly, thermal fluctuations drive filament tips on constrained, two-dimensional random walks across the membrane, where they encounter multiple actin-charged polymerases. At low actin concentrations, filament elongation is limited by delivery of monomers to the membrane surface; at high actin concentrations, elongation depends on how quickly fluctuating filaments search the membrane. Using experimentally measured parameter values we conclude that surface-mediated polymerization can outpace soluti

SUBMITTER: Mullins RD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12621849 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature