title: Non-Gaussian curvature distribution of actin-propelled biomimetic colloid trajectories.
abstract: We analyze the motion of colloids propelled by a comet-like tail of polymerizing actin filaments. The curvature of the particle trajectories deviates strongly from a Gaussian distribution, implying that the underlying microscopic processes are fluctuating in a non-independent manner. Trajectories for beads of different size all showed the same non-Gaussian behavior, while the mean curvature decreased weakly with size. A stochastic simulation that includes nucleation, force-dependent dissociation, growth, and capping of filaments, shows that the non-Gaussian curvature distribution can be explained by a positive feedback mechanism in which attached chains under higher tension are more likely to snap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Gucht
authors.forename: P Maarten
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Biesheuvel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weinkamer
authors.forename: Emmanuèle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helfer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fery
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology; D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D003102:Colloids; D008853:Microscopy; D008954:Models, Biological; D009038:Motion; D009068:Movement; D016011:Normal Distribution; D011137:Polystyrenes; D013269:Stochastic Processes
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003102:Colloids; D011137:Polystyrenes