Berlin 2008 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 24: Actin Dynamics

BP 24.9: Talk

Thursday, February 28, 2008, 16:30–16:45, C 243

Modeling and Mimicking Lamellipodial Actin Network Growth — •Florian Huber, Björn Stuhrmann, and Josef Käs — Institute for Soft Matter Physics, University of Leipzig, Linnéstr. 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

Most cells are able to perform directed migration, which is of enormous relevance for many different biological systems and indispensable for multicellular organisms. Typically the cell migrates by formation of lamellipodial structures, i.e. a thin active actin network. Its formation and appearance is regulated by various actin related proteins.

The key molecular players involved in these processes have been identified and have already been used to generate in vitro actin network growth. The required next step towards reproducing cellular conditions is to confine the polymerizing actin gel in sub-micron sized structures. These structures are obtained with a combination of several microfabrication techniques that also allow selective functionalization with the polymerization inducing peptide VCA. We use fluorescence microscopy to visualize the emerging actin network. Speckle microscopy will be applied to further analyze its properties.

For the first time we operate with a restricted protein pool that allows to mimic the self-sustaining character of the lamellipodial machinery. Moreover, we directly link experiment to Monte-Carlo simulation and mathematical modeling. All three approaches allow controlled variation of various biochemical and physical parameters in order to better understand the complex interplay between the essential cytoskeletal proteins.