Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 16: Poster Session I

BP 16.55: Poster

Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 17:00–19:30, Poster D

How depletion forces affect the organisation and mechanics of actin bundles — •Philipp von Olshausen, Oliver Lieleg, Mireille Claessens, and Andreas Bausch — Lehrstuhl für Biophysik E22, TU München

To organise actin filaments (F-actin) in bundles cells make use of many different types of actin binding proteins (ABPs). In vitro, the bundles' mechanical properties are strongly dependent on ABP type and density. However, in the crowded environment of a cell depletion forces might become important in filaments organisation, since they are known to strongly bundle F-actin. Thus it is an interesting question if cells can use ABPs to tune bundle mechanics and prevent the formation of stiff structures. Different microscopic techniques and an in vitro system of F-actin, ABPs and the depletion agent PEG-6k enable us to shed light on the interplay of specific ABPs and unspecific depletion forces in the process of actin bundling.