title: Structural polymorphism of the actin-espin system: a prototypical system of filaments and linkers in stereocilia.
abstract: We examine the interaction between cytoskeletal F-actin and espin 3A, a prototypical actin bundling protein found in sensory cell microvilli, including ear cell stereocilia. Espin induces twist distortions in F-actin as well as facilitates bundle formation. Mutations in one of the two F-actin binding sites of espin, which have been implicated in deafness, can tune espin-actin interactions and radically transform the system's phase behavior. These results are compared to recent theoretical work on the general phase behavior linker-rod systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Kirstin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Purdy
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bartles
authors.forename: Gerard C L
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002923:Cilia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009154:Mutation; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C493274:ESPN protein, human; C472022:Espn protein, rat; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins