Confinement and manipulation of actin filaments by electric fields.
When an AC electric field was applied across a small gap between two metal electrodes elevated above a surface, rhodamine-phalloidin-labeled actin filaments were attracted to the gap and became suspended between the two electrodes. The variance <s2(x)> of each filament's horizontal, lateral displacement was measured as a function of electric field intensity and position along the filament. <s2(x)> markedly decreased as the electric field intensity increased. Hypothesizing that the electric field induces tension in the filament, we estimated the tension using a linear, Brownian dynamic model. Our experimental method provides a novel means for trapping and manipulating biological filaments and for probing the surface conductance and mechanical properties of single polymers.
Arsenault
Mark E
ME
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Zhao
Hui
H
Purohit
Prashant K
PK
Goldman
Yale E
YE
Bau
Haim H
HH
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004548:Elasticity / Q000528:radiation effects; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
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