Kavli Affiliate: Daniel J. Needleman
| First 5 Authors: Sebastian Fürthauer, Daniel J Needleman, Michael J. Shelley, ,
| Summary:
Living matter moves, deforms, and organizes itself. In cells this is made
possible by networks of polymer filaments and crosslinking molecules that
connect filaments to each other and that act as motors to do mechanical work on
the network. For the case of highly cross-linked filament networks, we discuss
how the material properties of assemblies emerge from the forces exerted by
microscopic agents. First, we introduce a phenomenological model that
characterizes the forces that crosslink populations exert between filaments.
Second, we derive a theory that predicts the material properties of highly
crosslinked filament networks, given the crosslinks present. Third, we discuss
which properties of crosslinks set the material properties and behavior of
highly crosslinked cytoskeletal networks. The work presented here, will enable
the better understanding of cytoskeletal mechanics and its molecular
underpinnings. This theory is also a first step towards a theory of how
molecular perturbations impact cytoskeletal organization, and provides a
framework for designing cytoskeletal networks with desirable properties in the
lab.
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