Stress fibres form a fully integrated meshwork with the submembranous contractile actin cortex that generates and propagates traction forces across entire cell.

The aim of this paper is to develop suitable models for the phenomenon cell blebbing, which allow computational predictions mechanical effects including crucial interaction membrane and actin cortex. For sake we resort a two phase-field model that uses diffuse descriptions both cortex, in particular allows description via linker protein densities. Besides detailed modelling discuss some energet...

A computational model in one dimension is proposed to position a single centrosome using astral microtubules (MTs) interacting with the cell cortex. The mechanism exploits mutually antagonistic pulling and pushing forces arising from MTs’ binding cortical dynein motors actin-rich cortex their buckling while growing against cortex, respectively. underlying extended account for elongation positio...

The release of the main vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is a hallmark of endothelial function. We aim at elucidating the underlying mechanism how eNOS activity depends on cortical stiffness (К(cortex)) of living endothelial cells. It is hypothesized that cortical actin dynamics determines К(cortex) and directly influences eNOS activity. By combined atomic for...

The tight coupling between the plasma membrane and actin cortex allows cells to rapidly change shape in response to mechanical cues and during physiological processes. Mechanical properties of the membrane are critical for organizing the actin cortex, which ultimately governs the conversion of mechanical information into signaling. The cortex has been shown to rapidly remodel on timescales of s...

Cell cortex remodeling during cell division is a result of myofilament-driven contractility of the cortical membrane-bound actin meshwork. Little is known about the interaction between individual myofilaments and membrane-bound actin filaments. Here we reconstituted a minimal actin cortex to directly visualize the action of individual myofilaments on membrane-bound actin filaments using TIRF mi...

Although actin filaments are known to be localized in the cortex of axons and in the growth cones of nerve cells, it is unclear how actin-containing structures are assembled during nerve growth. We have studied the formation of actin structures in growing neurites by microinjecting fluorescent phalloidin or actin into PC12 neuron-like cells to label endogenous actin filaments. Upon stimulation ...

Contractile actin cortex is involved in cell morphogenesis, movement, and cytokinesis, but its organization and assembly are poorly understood. During blebbing, the membrane detaches from the cortex and inflates. As expansion ceases, contractile cortex re-assembles under the membrane and drives bleb retraction. This cycle enabled us to measure the temporal sequence of protein recruitment to the...