title: Oscillations in molecular motor assemblies.
abstract: Autonomous oscillations in biological systems may have a biochemical origin or result from an interplay between force-generating and visco-elastic elements. In molecular motor assemblies the force-generating elements are molecular engines and the visco-elastic elements are stiff cytoskeletal polymers. The physical mechanism leading to oscillations depends on the particular architecture of the assembly. Existing models can be grouped into two distinct categories: systems with a delayed force activation and anomalous force-velocity relations. We discuss these systems within phase plane analysis known from the theory of dynamic systems and by adopting methods from control theory, the Nyquist stability criterion.
authors.affiliation: J Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilfan
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frey