Home
Resources
Publications
Mechanical and Kinetic Factors Drive Sorting of F-actin Cross-Linkers on Bundles

Mechanical and Kinetic Factors Drive Sorting of F-actin Cross-Linkers on Bundles

Simon L Freedman, Cristian Suarez, Jonathan D Winkelman, David R Kovar, Gregory A Voth, Aaron R Dinner, Glen M Hocky

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Aug 13;116(33):16192-16197.

PMID: 31346091

Abstract:

In cells, actin-binding proteins (ABPs) sort to different regions to establish F-actin networks with diverse functions, including filopodia used for cell migration and contractile rings required for cell division. Recent experimental work uncovered a competition-based mechanism that may facilitate spatial localization of ABPs: binding of a short cross-linker protein to 2 actin filaments promotes the binding of other short cross-linkers and inhibits the binding of longer cross-linkers (and vice versa). We hypothesize this sorting arises because F-actin is semiflexible and cannot bend over short distances. We develop a mathematical theory and lattice models encompassing the most important physical parameters for this process and use coarse-grained simulations with explicit cross-linkers to characterize and test our predictions. Our theory and data predict an explicit dependence of cross-linker separation on bundle polymerization rate. We perform experiments that confirm this dependence, but with an unexpected cross-over in dominance of one cross-linker at high growth rates to the other at slow growth rates, and we investigate the origin of this cross-over with further simulations. The nonequilibrium mechanism that we describe can allow cells to organize molecular material to drive biological processes, and our results can guide the choice and design of cross-linkers for engineered protein-based materials.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
IAR4248447	TrueGel3D Crosslinker			Price

As a specialist in analytical chemical Products, Alfa Chemistry offers consumers a wealth of raw materials and a full range of technologies and services.

QUICK LINKS

HEADQUARTERS

Tel:

Fax:

Email: