Spontaneous oscillation and fluid-structure interaction of cilia.

ABSTRACT: The exact mechanism to orchestrate the action of hundreds of dynein motor proteins to generate wave-like ciliary beating remains puzzling and has fascinated many scientists. We present a 3D model of a cilium and the simulation of its beating in a fluid environment. The model cilium obeys a simple geometric constraint that arises naturally from the microscopic structure of a real cilium. This constraint allows us to determine the whole 3D structure at any instant in terms of the configuration of a single space curve. The tensions of active links, which model the dynein motor proteins, follow a postulated dynamical law, and together with the passive elasticity of microtubules, this dynamical law is responsible for the ciliary motions. In particular, our postulated tension dynamics lead to th

SUBMITTER: Han J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5924875 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature