Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 46: Posters - Biomaterials and Biopolymers
BP 46.4: Poster
Wednesday, March 9, 2016, 17:00–19:00, Poster C
DNA-based molecular force sensors in reconstituted actin networks — •Christina Jayachandran1, Florian Rehfeldt2, and Christoph Schmidt3 — 1Drittes Physikalisches Institut, Georg- August -Universität, Göttingen, Germany — 2Drittes Physikalisches Institut, Georg- August -Universität, Göttingen, Germany — 3Drittes Physikalisches Institut, Georg- August -Universität, Göttingen, Germany
Actin is the main structural component of the cytoskeleton among the other bio-polymers responsible for cellular shape and mechanical stability. The actin cytoskeleton which self-assembles into networks of crosslinked filaments and bundles is responsible for a myriad of cellular processes, ranging from migration, division, intracellular transport to cell morphogenesis. Stresses and stress propagation in these networks are crucial for function.
We utilize dsDNA constructs as stress sensors in order to understand network mechanics. We studied the macro- and micro-rheological properties of in vitro actin networks to test the sensors and to analyze network failure mechanisms beyond the non-linear response.