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Continuum Description of the Cytoskeleton: Ring Formation in the Cell Cortex

Alexander Zumdieck·Marco Cosentino Lagomarsino·Catalin Tanase·Karsten Kruse·Bela Mulder·Marileen Dogterom·Frank J"ulicher
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Abstract

Motivated by the formation of ring-like filament structures in the cortex of plant and animal cells, we study the dynamics of a two-dimensional layer of cytoskeletal filaments and motor proteins near a surface by a general continuum theory. As a result of active processes, dynamic patterns of filament orientation and density emerge via instabilities. We show that self-organization phenomena can lead to the formation of stationary and oscillating rings. We present state diagrams which reveal a rich scenario of asymptotic behaviors and discuss the role of boundary conditions.

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Alexander Zumdieck, Marco Cosentino Lagomarsino, Catalin Tanase, Karsten Kruse, Bela Mulder, Marileen Dogterom, Frank J"ulicher. 2005-10-27. Continuum Description of the Cytoskeleton: Ring Formation in the Cell Cortex. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.258103

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