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Active Restructuring of Myosin-Driven Actin-Microtubule Networks

POSTER

Abstract

The cytoskeleton is a dynamic network of protein filaments and motors, including actin, microtubules and myosin, that enable key processes in the cell such as growth, movement, and cell division. Active rearrangement and contraction of actin networks by myosin motors has been extensively studied in recent years. However, how the interactions between actin and microtubules affects actomyosin activity remains poorly understood. We investigate the active dynamics and restructuring of composite networks of actin and microtubules driven by myosin II motors. We combine spatial image autocorrelation analysis and particle image velocimetry to characterize the time-varying network structure and velocity profiles of actin and microtubules. We show that actin and microtubules exhibit similar contractile flow fields that increase in magnitude and heterogeneity as the concentration of actin or myosin increases. We also find that the correlation length scales of the composite networks generally decrease over time but at a slower rate with higher concentrations of actin or myosin. These findings provide insight into how the cytoskeleton can tune its dynamics and structure to impact cellular processes such as movement and growth.

Presenters

  • Christopher Currie

    University of San Diego

Authors

  • Christopher Currie

    University of San Diego

  • Gloria Lee

    University of San Diego, Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego

  • Michael Rust

    University of Chicago, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago

  • Moumita Das

    Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester Insititute of Technology, School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology

  • Leila Farhadi

    Syracuse University, Physics, Syracuse University

  • Jennifer L Ross

    Syracuse University, Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Physics, Syracuse University

  • Ryan J. McGorty

    University of San Diego, Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego

  • Rae M Robertson-Anderson

    University of San Diego, Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, Biophysics, University of San Diego, Physics and Biophysics, University of SanDiego