Dynamic stability of actin cytoskeletal networks with mixed geometries

Cells dynamically remodel their cytoskeleton while simultaneously utilizing it to carry out vital tasks such as migration and division. In cells, multiple distinct actin structures coexist, and it is unclear how this coexistence of multiple dynamic networks affects the stability of each network. To this end, we re-engineer a dynamic cytoskeletal system using a minimal set of purified proteins to simultaneously nucleate filamentous actin networks containing mixtures of both branched Arp2/3 and linear formin networks. With this system, we investigate the effect of coexistence of networks with different geometries and growth rates on steady-state structure. Additionally, we explore the influence of both filament severing activity and molecular motor activity on network stability.