Spectrin-level modeling of the cytoskeleton and optical tweezers stretching of the erythrocyte.

ABSTRACT: We present a three-dimensional computational study of whole-cell equilibrium shape and deformation of human red blood cell (RBC) using spectrin-level energetics. Random network models consisting of degree-2, 3, ..., 9 junction complexes and spectrin links are used to populate spherical and biconcave surfaces and intermediate shapes, and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations are then performed with spectrin connectivities fixed. A sphere is first filled with cytosol and gradually deflated while preserving its total surface area, until cytosol volume consistent with the real RBC is reached. The equilibrium shape is determined through energy minimization by assuming that the spectrin tetramer links satisfy the worm-like chain free-energy model. Subsequently, direct stretching by optic

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1305517 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature