Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 26: Poster Session II

BP 26.8: Poster

Thursday, March 29, 2007, 17:00–19:30, Poster B

Computational Study on the Formation of Membrane Protrusions by Actin Polymerization — •Mathias Bünemann and Peter Lenz — Fachbereich Physik, Philipps-Universität Marburg, D-35032 Marburg

Actin networks are essential for a living (eukaryotic) cell. They build up the cytoskeleton thus giving the cell structure. Since actin filaments can polymerize and depolymerize these structures are highly dynamical. Their morphology is strongly influenced by interactions with various linking proteins. Actin-polymerization provides a mechanism to deform the cell membrane and to allow the cell to move [1]. In numerical simulations we have analyzed the growth dynamics of actin networks in confining geometries. We are able to calculate the polymerization-induced forces on obstacles. In particular, for filament-induced membrane protrusions we make predictions of the dependence of the growth velocity on polymerization rate and actin concentration.

[1] H. Miyata et al., PNAS 96:2048 (1999), V.C. Abraham et al., Biophys.J. 77:1721 (1999)