Dynamics of cytoskeletal filaments

Abstract

We apply elasticity theory formalism to study long-range, collective vibrations of actin and intermediate filaments, which are long cylindrical macromolecules and constitute part of the cytoskeleton network in eukariotic cells. The dispersion relations are obtained for elastic waves propagating in the vicinity of filaments which are modeled as elastic cylindrical rods immersed in a liquid. In the long-wavelength limit the filament-water system supports two acoustic modes with propagation speeds of approximately 800 and 1300 m/s and a single flexural wave with parabolic dispersion law. The presence of solvent leads to radiation of acoustic energy from waves with a phase velocity exceeding the speed of sound of water. Our study complements the existing normal-mode analysis of free actin filament vibrations and generalizes these results for different structures as well as including the effects of solvents. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.