title: Biomimetic models of the actin cytoskeleton.
abstract: The cytoskeleton is a complex polymer network that plays an essential role in the functionality of eukaryotic cells. It endows cells with mechanical stability, adaptability, and motility. To identify and understand the mechanisms underlying this large variety of capabilities and to possibly transfer them to engineered networks makes it necessary to have in vitro and in silico model systems of the cytoskeleton. These models must be realistic representatives of the cellular network and at the same time be controllable and reproducible. Here, an approach to design complementary experimental and numerical model systems of the actin cytoskeleton is presented and some of their properties discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgy, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. mohrdieck@mf.mpg.de
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mohrdieck
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dalmas
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arzt
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tharmann
authors.forename: Mireille M A E
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.forename: Andreas R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bausch
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sackmann
authors.forename: Christian H J
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uhrig
authors.forename: Joachim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spatz
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D006696:Holography; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D033081:Shear Strength
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols