| Literature DB >> 28202730 |
Kimberly L Weirich1, Shiladitya Banerjee1,2,3, Kinjal Dasbiswas1, Thomas A Witten1,4, Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan1,5, Margaret L Gardel6,4,7.
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton is a critical regulator of cytoplasmic architecture and mechanics, essential in a myriad of physiological processes. Here we demonstrate a liquid phase of actin filaments in the presence of the physiological cross-linker, filamin. Filamin condenses short actin filaments into spindle-shaped droplets, or tactoids, with shape dynamics consistent with a continuum model of anisotropic liquids. We find that cross-linker density controls the droplet shape and deformation timescales, consistent with a variable interfacial tension and viscosity. Near the liquid-solid transition, cross-linked actin bundles show behaviors reminiscent of fluid threads, including capillary instabilities and contraction. These data reveal a liquid droplet phase of actin, demixed from the surrounding solution and dominated by interfacial tension. These results suggest a mechanism to control organization, morphology, and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton.Entities:
Keywords: actin; cytoskeleton; liquid crystal; phase separation
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Year: 2017 PMID： 28202730 PMCID： PMC5338483 DOI： 10.1073/pnas.1616133114
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ISSN： 0027-8424 Impact factor: 11.205