Actomyosin Networks

Actin is a protein that forms filaments (F-actin) in our cells. F-actin facilitates cellular processes including cell motility, cell division, and muscle contraction. In the cytoskeleton, F-actin movement generates the contractile forces needed for cell division. Myosin motor proteins are the main driver of this motion, but understanding the mechanics of actomyosin networks remains an active research area.

We developed an agent-based model for a two-dimensional actomyosin network. Model simulations suggested F-actin bending to be the key feature that favours actomyosin contraction. We analysed the geometric asymmetry caused by F-actin bending in more detail in a follow-up paper.

Publications

• AKY Tam, A Mogilner and DB Oelz, Protein friction and filament bending facilitate contraction of disordered actomyosin networks, Biophys. J. 120 (2021), 11247, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.012.
• AKY Tam, A Mogilner and DB Oelz, F-actin bending facilitates net actomyosin contraction by inhibiting expansion with plus-end-located myosin motors, J. Math. Biol. 85 (2022), 4, DOI: 10.1007/s00285-022-01737-z.

Collaborators

• Dietmar Oelz (U. Queensland)
• Alex Mogilner (New York U.)
• Daan Vorselen (Wageningen U.)
• Meghan Morrissey (UC Santa Barbara)
• Pedro Elias Marques (KU Leuven)