Physics
Scientific paper
Mar 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002aps..marf30007k&link_type=abstract
American Physical Society, Annual APS March Meeting, March 18 - 22, 2002 Indiana Convention Center; Indianapolis, Indiana Meetin
Physics
Scientific paper
We have developed and calculated a model of the propulsion of intracellular parasites by actin polymerization. A disc or sphere is uniformly coated with sites at which F-actin is bound and G-actin may intercalate. Intercalation displaces the sphere and polymer along the polymeric axis, in opposite directions, by amounts inversely proportional to their viscous drags. As the sphere is displaced and rotates the polymers are subject to drag in the flow field. We consider two cases: 1. The polymers remain perpendicular to the surface of the sphere, but are free to slide along it; 2. The polymers are hinged at fixed points of attachment. In each case fluctuations in displacement (resulting from stochastic choice of intercalation sites) grow as motion in one direction sweeps the polymers back, so further intercalation augments the directed motion. Numerical simulation shows that the second case leads to runaway (pinwheel) rotation and little translation, but that in the first case the sphere is effectively propelled after a latency time, and a comet tail is formed.
Carlsson Anders
Katz Jonathan
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