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PubMed · 17145960

Cracking up: symmetry breaking in cellular systems.

Ewa Paluch·Jasper van der Gucht·Cécile Sykes
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Abstract

The shape of animal cells is, to a large extent, determined by the cortical actin network that underlies the cell membrane. Because of the presence of myosin motors, the actin cortex is under tension, and local relaxation of this tension can result in cortical flows that lead to deformation and polarization of the cell. Cortex relaxation is often regulated by polarizing signals, but the cortex can also rupture and relax spontaneously. A similar tension-induced polarization is observed in actin gels growing around beads, and we propose that a common mechanism governs actin gel rupture in both systems.

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ActinsAnimalsCellsCellular StructuresGelsMechanotransduction, CellularStress, MechanicalJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReview

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Ewa Paluch, Jasper van der Gucht, Cécile Sykes. 2006-12-04. Cracking up: symmetry breaking in cellular systems.. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200607159

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