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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 15: Biopolymers II

AKB 15.6: Talk

Tuesday, March 28, 2006, 17:45–18:00, ZEU 260

Characterizing Formin: A Step-By-Step Approach — •Brian Gentry — Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Uni-Leipzig, Linnéstr. 5 04103 Leipzig

The actin cytoskeleton in Eukaryotic cells is a complex system capable of dynamic reorganization during motility processes. Many actin-binding proteins are involved in the reorganization, including motors, cappers and molecules which nucleate and branch filaments. Formin is an end-binding molecular engine which is capable of nucleating and driving the polymerization of actin polymers in vivo. It is involved in the formation of long, unbranched massive actin fibers, such as those found in filipodia. We are currently studying formin and its ability to drive polymerization in vitro using laser tweezers. Using this state-of-the-art method we are investigating the force produced as well as the stepsize of the motor and hope to gain insight into the underlying dynamics of its operation. This method will allow us to directly measure polymerization forces in a controlled manner.