Network heterogeneity regulates steering in actin-based motility.

ABSTRACT: The growth of branched actin networks powers cell-edge protrusions and motility. A heterogeneous density of actin, which yields to a tunable cellular response, characterizes these dynamic structures. We study how actin organization controls both the rate and the steering during lamellipodium growth. We use a high-resolution surface structuration assay combined with mathematical modeling to describe the growth of a reconstituted lamellipodium. We demonstrate that local monomer depletion at the site of assembly negatively impacts the network growth rate. At the same time, network architecture tunes the protrusion efficiency, and regulates the rate of growth. One consequence of this interdependence between monomer depletion and network architecture effects is the ability of heterogeneous netw

SUBMITTER: Boujemaa-Paterski R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5608943 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature