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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 19: Cell Adhesion
BP 19.7: Vortrag
Donnerstag, 26. März 2009, 12:30–12:45, ZEU 260
Stochastic dynamics and stability of adhesion sites with different bond arrangements — •Johanna von Treuenfels1, Christian Korn1, and Ulrich S. Schwarz1,2 — 1University of Heidelberg, Bioquant 0013, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany — 2University of Karlsruhe, Theoretical Biophysics Group, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Adhesive contacts between cells and their environment are organized around a two-dimensional layer of transmembrane adhesion receptors that continuously dissociate and rebind to their extracellular ligands. On the cytoplasmic side, this layer of adhesion bonds is reinforced by additional layers of bonds which on their top side connect to force-generating elements in the cell, mainly the actin cytoskeleton. We introduce a master equation model for adhesion sites which includes these aspects of the spatial organization of the molecular bonds within the adhesion site. We investigate the stochastic dynamics and stability of clusters of bonds connected in series, in parallel and in combinations of these. We consider the mean rupture time as a measure for stability under the disruptive effect of force and find that different configurations are optimal depending on the level of applied force. This suggests that adhesion sites might be organized differently depending on the amount of force they are exposed to.