Actin Filament Mechanics and Structure in Crowded Environments

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
Nicholas CastanedaHyeran Kang

Abstract

The cellular environment is crowded with high concentrations of macromolecules that significantly reduce accessible volume for biomolecular interactions. Reductions in cellular volume can generate depletion forces that affect protein assembly and stability. The mechanical and structural properties of actin filaments play critical roles in various cellular functions, including structural support, cell movement, division, and intracellular transport. Although the effects of molecular crowding on actin polymerization have been shown, how crowded environments affect filament mechanics and structure is unknown. In this study, we investigate the effects of solution crowding on the modulations of actin filament bending stiffness and conformations both in vitro and in silico. Direct visualization of thermally fluctuating filaments in the presence of crowding agents is achieved by fluorescence microscopy imaging. Biophysical analysis indicates that molecular crowding enhances filament's effective bending stiffness and reduces average filament lengths. Utilizing the all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that molecular crowding alters filament conformations and intersubunit contacts that are directly coupled to the mecha...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 10, 2020·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·James B HeidingsEllen H Kang
Aug 24, 2021·Frontiers of Physics·Nicholas CastanedaEllen Hyeran Kang
Oct 1, 2021·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Michael Feig
Dec 14, 2021·Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences·Nicholas CastanedaEllen Hyeran Kang

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