Morphology of actin assemblies in response to polycation and salts

Biomacromolecules. 2005 Nov-Dec;6(6):3005-9. doi: 10.1021/bm050320g.

Abstract

F-actins are semi-flexible polyelectrolytes and can be assembled into a large polymer-actin complex with polymorphism through electrostatic interaction with polycations. This study investigates the structural phase behavior and the growth of polymer-actin complexes in terms of its longitudinal and lateral sizes in various polycation and KCl concentrations for a constant actin concentration. Our results show that the longitudinal growth and lateral growth of polymer-actin complexes, initiated by a common nucleation process, are dominated by different factors in subsequent growth process. This induces the structural polymorphism of polymer-actin complexes. Major factors to influence the polymorphism of polymer-actin complexes in polyelectrolyte systems have been discussed. Our results indicate that the semiflexible polyelectrolyte nature of F-actins is important for controlling the morphology and growth of actin architectures in cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / chemistry*
  • Actins / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Cations / chemistry*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrolytes
  • Ions
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Pectinidae
  • Polyamines / chemistry*
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Potassium Chloride / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Salts / pharmacology*
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Actins
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Cations
  • Electrolytes
  • Ions
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Polyamines
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Polymers
  • Salts
  • polycations
  • Potassium Chloride