Actin cross-link assembly and disassembly mechanics for alpha-Actinin and fascin.

ABSTRACT: Self-assembly of complex structures is commonplace in biology but often poorly understood. In the case of the actin cytoskeleton, a great deal is known about the components that include higher order structures, such as lamellar meshes, filopodial bundles, and stress fibers. Each of these cytoskeletal structures contains actin filaments and cross-linking proteins, but the role of cross-linking proteins in the initial steps of structure formation has not been clearly elucidated. We employ an optical trapping assay to investigate the behaviors of two actin cross-linking proteins, fascin and alpha-actinin, during the first steps of structure assembly. Here, we show that these proteins have distinct binding characteristics that cause them to recognize and cross-link filaments that are arranged

SUBMITTER: Courson DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2924060 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature