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Dendritic actin filament nucleation causes traveling waves and patches.

ABSTRACT: The polymerization of actin via branching at a cell membrane containing nucleation-promoting factors is simulated using a stochastic-growth methodology. The polymerized-actin distribution displays three types of behavior: (a) traveling waves, (b) moving patches, and (c) random fluctuations. Increasing actin concentration causes a transition from patches to waves. The waves and patches move by a treadmilling mechanism not involving myosin II. The effects of downregulation of key proteins on actin wave behavior are evaluated.

SUBMITTER: Carlsson AE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2947330 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Dendritic actin filament nucleation causes traveling waves and patches.

Carlsson Anders E AE

Physical review letters 20100601 22

The polymerization of actin via branching at a cell membrane containing nucleation-promoting factors is simulated using a stochastic-growth methodology. The polymerized-actin distribution displays three types of behavior: (a) traveling waves, (b) moving patches, and (c) random fluctuations. Increasing actin concentration causes a transition from patches to waves. The waves and patches move by a treadmilling mechanism not involving myosin II. The effects of downregulation of key proteins on actin ...[more]

PMID: 20867207

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