Self-organization of active networks of actin & myosin motors

The cytoskeleton is a network of biopolymers that mechanically supports the cell. It has the unusual ability to actively stiffen when forces are applied to the cell. In vivo studies suggest that this response originates from internal tension generated by myosin motors within the actin cortex. However, the physical mechanism connecting molecular activity to macroscopic changes in cell stiffness is unclear. We reconstitute an in vitro protein network that mimics active cellular behavior and quantitatively measure its viscoelastic properties by microrheology (using video tracking and laser tweezer interferometry).

More information: Marina Soares e Silva and Bjorn Stuhrmann
Collaborations: Martin Depken and Fred MacKintosh (VU)