Bending stiffness of a crystalline actin bundle

J Mol Biol. 2004 Mar 19;337(2):255-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.01.028.

Abstract

The acrosomal process of the sperm of the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is a unique crystalline actin bundle, consisting of multiple actin filaments cross-linked by the actin-bundling protein, scruin. For successful fertilization, the acrosomal bundle must penetrate through a 30 microm thick jelly coat surrounding the egg and thus it must be sufficiently stiff. Here, we present two measurements of the bending stiffness of a single crystalline bundle of actin. Results from these measurements indicate that the actin:scruin composite bundle has an average elastic modulus of 2 GPa, which is similar to that of a single actin filament, and a bending stiffness that is more than two orders of magnitude larger than that of a bundle of uncross-linked actin filaments due to stiffening by the scruin matrix.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acrosome / chemistry*
  • Acrosome / physiology
  • Actins / chemistry*
  • Actins / physiology
  • Animals
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • Crystallization
  • Elasticity
  • Female
  • Horseshoe Crabs
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Magnetics
  • Male
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / physiology

Substances

  • Actins
  • scruin protein, Horseshoe Crab