Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 29: Posters: Biopolymers \& Biomaterials

BP 29.11: Poster

Thursday, March 17, 2011, 17:15–20:00, P3

Length Dynamics of Active Polar Filaments — •Christoph Erlenkämper and Karsten Kruse — Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany

F-actin and microtubules are linear polymers with distinct chemical properties at both ends. Assembly and disassembly of these polar filaments are active processes as they depend on the hydrolysis of energy rich ATP or GTP, respectively. Together, the polarity and the activity of the filaments can lead to treadmilling, where one end of the filament grows on average while the other shrinks. We theoretically study the length dynamics of active polar filaments and find that the steady-state length distribution peaks at a typical value. We show that the intrinsic length regulation is intimately linked to treadmilling as both depend on the formation of a gradient in the local ATP or GTP concentration along the filaments. We present approximate expressions for the typical filament lenghts and treadmilling velocities.