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Monomer Depletion, Pressure Difference, and Membrane Tube Radius Reduction due to Fiber Polymerization in Microspikes

Rob Daniels Orcid Logo

Physical Review Letters, Volume: 100, Issue: 4, Start page: 048103

Swansea University Author: Rob Daniels Orcid Logo

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Abstract

Title: Monomer depletion, pressure difference, and membrane tube radius reduction due to fiber polymerization in microspikesSource: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Volume: 100 Issue: 4 Article Number: 048103 Published: FEB 1 2008Abstract: In many processes vital to life, the growth of biological fibers outw...

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Published in: Physical Review Letters
ISSN: 0031-9007 1079-7114
Published: 2008
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa10919
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Abstract: Title: Monomer depletion, pressure difference, and membrane tube radius reduction due to fiber polymerization in microspikesSource: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Volume: 100 Issue: 4 Article Number: 048103 Published: FEB 1 2008Abstract: In many processes vital to life, the growth of biological fibers outwards from a membrane surface naturally produces membrane tube tethers or microspikes in biological cells. Here, we investigate the novel effect of pressure difference (due to monomer depletion) on the polymerization dynamics of biological fibers within long membrane tubes. We crucially find that fiber monomers become depleted close to the growing tip as the fiber polymerizes, thus reducing the local pressure, and hence decreasing the membrane tube radius at the tip. This process is found to slow the growth of the fiber, a process which becomes important when we go on to construct a dynamical theory for biopolymer growth in long, narrow tubes. Our result is interesting in that it emphasizes how "passive" biological transport mechanisms such as via pressure differences may play an important role in cell movements.Impact Factor: 7.180
Item Description: The growth of microspikes on the exterior of cells is vital to many processes required for life. This work is important in that it gives for the first time a comprehensive and novel theory for such microspike dynamics. The significance of this work is that now we understand theoretically the mechanisms behind microspike dynamics, we can begin to alter them physiochemically, and potentially devise new therapeutics for many life threatening diseases where microspike growth goes awry.
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Issue: 4
Start Page: 048103