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CPP: Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 9: SYMPOSIUM: Polymer networks and beyond: From molecular structure to materials and biological functions POSTER

CPP 9.14: Poster

Saturday, March 5, 2005, 16:45–18:45, Poster TU D

Active Myosin-II Cross-Linked 2-Dimensional F-Actin Networks on Micro-Fabricated Pillar Arrays — •Simon Schulz¹, Wouter Roos¹, Albert Sugiharto¹, Alexander Roth², Erich Sackmann², and Joachim Spatz¹ — ¹Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Stuttgart + Universität Heidelberg, Biophysikalische Chemie, Heidelberg — ²Physik-Department E22, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching

Arrays of micro-fabricated pillars are constructed to serve as a template for mimicking the function of Actin cortices. Different methods to fabricate pillar arrays will be discussed; these involve photolithographic techniques, plasma etching processes and replicative molding techniques. A two-dimensional network of F-Actin that is pending from the pillar tops is fabricated. Passive and active cross linkers are used as bundling agent. ATP dependent Myosin-II cross links allow for dynamic network studies. Due to the 3-dimensional template surface interaction of filaments bending between pillars with substrate surfaces is prevented. This opens new possibilities to study the mechanics of 2-dimensional F-Actin networks as a function of Actin-crosslinkers, and the active diffusion or contraction of molecular motors operating in pending networks.