Tube width fluctuations in F-actin solutions

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Jul 16;105(3):037801. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.037801. Epub 2010 Jul 13.

Abstract

We determine the statistics of the local tube width in F-actin solutions, beyond the usually reported mean value. Our experimental observations are explained by a segment fluid theory based on the binary collision approximation. In this systematic generalization of the standard mean-field approach, effective polymer segments interact via a potential representing the topological constraints. The analytically predicted universal tube width distribution with a stretched tail is in good agreement with the data.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Pliability
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Statistics as Topic

Substances

  • Actins
  • Solutions