Structural polymorphism of the actin-espin system: a prototypical system of filaments and linkers in stereocilia.

نویسندگان

  • Kirstin R Purdy
  • James R Bartles
  • Gerard C L Wong
چکیده

We examine the interaction between cytoskeletal F-actin and espin 3A, a prototypical actin bundling protein found in sensory cell microvilli, including ear cell stereocilia. Espin induces twist distortions in F-actin as well as facilitates bundle formation. Mutations in one of the two F-actin binding sites of espin, which have been implicated in deafness, can tune espin-actin interactions and radically transform the system's phase behavior. These results are compared to recent theoretical work on the general phase behavior linker-rod systems.

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عنوان ژورنال:
  • Physical review letters

دوره 98 5  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2007