The limits of filopodium stability

Biology – Quantitative Biology – Subcellular Processes

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.258102

Filopodia are long, finger-like membrane tubes supported by cytoskeletal filaments. Their shape is determined by the stiffness of the actin filament bundles found inside them and by the interplay between the surface tension and bending rigidity of the membrane. Although one might expect the Euler buckling instability to limit the length of filopodia, we show through simple energetic considerations that this is in general not the case. By further analyzing the statics of filaments inside membrane tubes, and through computer simulations that capture membrane and filament fluctuations, we show under which conditions filopodia of arbitrary lengths are stable. We discuss several in vitro experiments where this kind of stability has already been observed. Furthermore, we predict that the filaments in long, stable filopodia adopt a helical shape.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

The limits of filopodium stability does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The limits of filopodium stability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The limits of filopodium stability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-405613

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.