title: Dynamics and morphology of microvilli driven by actin polymerization.
abstract: Many different cell types have dynamic protrusions, called microvilli, on their surface. We model these structures as arising from the balance between the force of actin polymerization and the restoring force of the membrane. From this simple model we calculate the distribution function of microvilli heights for several cells. We further describe the phase diagram and the resulting morphology of the microvilli aggregates on the cell surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Physics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O.B. 26, Rehovot, Israel 76100.
authors.forename: Nir S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Gov
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019281:Dimerization; D008871:Microvilli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes