Molecular model of the contractile ring.
We present a model for the actin contractile ring of adherent animal cells. The model suggests that the actin concentration within the ring and consequently the power that the ring exerts both increase during contraction. We demonstrate the crucial role of actin polymerization and depolymerization throughout cytokinesis, and the dominance of viscous dissipation in the dynamics. The physical origin of two phases in cytokinesis dynamics ("biphasic cytokinesis") follows from a limitation on the actin density. The model is consistent with a wide range of measurements of the midzone of dividing animal cells.
Biron
D
D
Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Alvarez-Lacalle
E
E
Tlusty
T
T
Moses
E
E
D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000166:cytology; D008954:Models, Biological
D000199:Actins