title: Hierarchical self-assembly of actin in micro-confinements using microfluidics.
abstract: We present a straightforward microfluidics system to achieve step-by-step reaction sequences in a diffusion-controlled manner in quasi two-dimensional micro-confinements. We demonstrate the hierarchical self-organization of actin (actin monomers-entangled networks of filaments-networks of bundles) in a reversible fashion by tuning the [Formula: see text] ion concentration in the system. We show that actin can form networks of bundles in the presence of [Formula: see text] without any cross-linking proteins. The properties of these networks are influenced by the confinement geometry. In square microchambers we predominantly find rectangular networks, whereas triangular meshes are predominantly found in circular chambers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Siddharth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pfohl
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