Regensburg 2004 – scientific programme

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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 50: Poster Session "Biological Physics"

AKB 50.110: Poster

Friday, March 12, 2004, 10:30–13:00, B

Spatially periodic patterns in nematic and biopolymer-motor systems — •Falko Ziebert and Walter Zimmermann — FR Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, 66041 Saarbrücken

We present two possible mechanisms of pattern formation in rigid biopolymer systems like actin filaments and microtubules. The first one is the competition between diffusion and the finite lifetime of the filaments, which are in vivo continuously assembled and disassembled. This kinetics transforms the phase separation close to the isotropic-nematic-transition into the formation of spatially periodic patterns, as predicted on the basis of a phenomenological model.

In the second scenario, motor proteins are added to a solution of filaments. Because the motors walk on a filament only in one specified direction defined by the structure of the filament and the motor species, the n^→↔−n^→ symmetry of the filament solution is broken which leads to new patterns. This scenario can be described microscopically by means of a Smoluchowski-equation.