Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik
DY 5: Statistical Physics of Biological Systems II (organised by DY)
DY 5.9: Talk
Monday, March 14, 2011, 16:15–16:30, HÜL 186
Active Transport and Cluster Formation on Filament Networks — •Maren Westkott1, Philip Greulich2, and Ludger Santen1 — 1Department of Theoretical Physics, Saarland University, 66041 Saarbrücken, Germany — 2Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, UK
We introduce a model for active transport on inhomogeneous networks embedded in a diffusive environment which is motivated by vesicular transport on actin filaments. In the presence of a hard-core interaction, particle clusters are observed that exhibit an algebraically decaying distribution in a large parameter regime, indicating the existence of clusters on all scales. The scale-free behavior can be understood by a mechanism promoting preferential attachment of particles to large clusters.
We also show that, by applying confining boundary conditions, a self-organization of the network toward a polarized structure is induced, even without explicit regulation and interactions. The polarity, can lead to separation of particle species adjusting to the enclosing geometry. The underlying mechanism can be understood by a linear theory similar to electrostatics. Finally we are discussing active transport phenomena on realistic cellular structures.
[1] P. Greulich and L. Santen, Eur. Phys. J. E 32, 191-208 (2010)