Skin layer at the actin-gel surface: quenched protein membranes form flat, crumpled, and tubular morphologies.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2004;
93:018101. [PMID:
15324022 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.93.018101]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We report the discovery of a hierarchically structured skin layer formed at the surface of an isotropic gel of filamentous actin bundles at high molar ratios of alpha-actinin, an actin cross-linker, to globular actin. Confocal microscopy has elucidated the full, micron scale 3D structure. The protein skin layer, composed of a directed network of bundles, exhibits flat, crumpled, tubelike and pleated multitubular morphologies, resulting from stresses due to the underlying gel. The skin layer, which readily detaches, constitutes a model anisotropic solid membrane with stress-induced, quenched disorder.
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