Mechanics of cytogels I: oscillations in physarum.
The contractility of actomyosin gels is the basis for a variety of cellular motility phenomena. We present here a mechanical analysis of contractile gels. By making certain hypotheses on the chemical regulation of cytogel contraction we formulate a model for the rhythmic contractions of plasmodia in the slime mold Physarum polycephalum which is in accord with a number of experimental observations.
D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology*; D000205:Actomyosin / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D004548:Elasticity; D005782:Gels; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D009218:Myosins / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D010804:Physarum / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014783:Viscosity
D000199:Actins; D005782:Gels; D000205:Actomyosin; D009218:Myosins; D002118:Calcium