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Comment
. 2015 May 26;112(21):6527-8.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1507100112. Epub 2015 May 18.

Dynamic cross-links tune the solid-fluid behavior of living cells

Wylie W Ahmed  1 , Timo Betz  2
Affiliations
Comment

Dynamic cross-links tune the solid-fluid behavior of living cells

Wylie W Ahmed et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Schematic diagram of the properties of actin networks with cross-linkers and myosin motors. (A) Actin filaments form the bulk polymeric material of the network. Transient cross-linkers bind actin filaments together and myosin motors allow the generation of internal forces. (B) The binding time of cross-linkers (tb) determines the transition from solid to fluid-like behavior. In the limit where the cross-links are bound infinitely (tb →∞), the network becomes elastic, whereas for vanishing binding times it is fluid. (C) In a solid-like network (permanent cross-links), motor forces lead to build up of elastic energy, which is stored in the deformation of actin filaments and cross-linkers. In a fluid-like network (no cross-links), motor forces are able to slide uncross-linked filaments through the network leading to force relaxation through viscous dissipation. Tuning the cross-linking dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton allows cells to generate and resist forces while also allowing remodeling.
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