Actin-based propulsion of spatially extended objects

We propose a mathematical model of the actin-based propulsion of spatially extended obstacles. It starts from the properties of individual actin filaments and includes transient attachment to the obstacle, polymerization as well as cross-linking. Two particular geometries are discussed, which apply to the motion of protein-coated beads in a cell-like medium and the leading edge of a cell protrusion, respectively. The model gives rise to both steady and saltatory movement of beads and can explain the experimentally observed transitions of the dynamic regime with changing bead radius and protein surface density. Several spatiotemporal patterns are obtained with a soft obstacle under tension, including the experimentally observed spontaneous emergence of lateral traveling waves in crawling cells. Thus, we suggest a unifying mechanism for systems that are currently described by differential concepts

Cu codoping control over magnetic precipitate formation in ZnCoO nanowires

Using electrodeposition, we have grown nanowires of ZnCoO with Cu codoping concentrations varying from 4-10 at.%, controlled only by the deposition potential. We demonstrate control over magnetic Co oxide nano-precipitate formation in the nanowires via the Cu concentration. The different magnetic behavior of the Co oxide nano-precipitates indicates the potential of ZnCoO for magnetic sensor applications.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

OPTICAL AND PHOTOCATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF ELECTROSPUN ZnO FIBERS

ZnO nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning a solution of zinc acetate dihydrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone in N,N-dimethylformamide, followed by calcination at 500, 650 or 800 °C for 1 h. X-ray diffraction, selected area electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used for the characterization of the resulting fibers. The thermally treated samples exhibit ZnO single phase with polycrystalline hexagonal structure. The morphological investigation revealed an accentuated contraction process during calcination, as well as the increase of the crystallite size and the appearance of a breaking tendency with the calcination temperature enhancement. Both UV and Visible emissions under excitation at 350 nm were showed by the optical studies, which also led to band gap values slightly lower than those reported for similar one-dimensional nanostructures. In order to assess the photocatalytic activity of ZnO fibers, the photodegradation of methylene blue in aqueous medium (10 -3 M) under UV irradiation (368 nm) was analyzed

Sequential Deposition Of Multisegment Nanowires

Electrochemical replication of nanoporous membranes represents a facile approach towards the fabrication of nanostructures with tailored properties. By the template method we prepared multisegment nanowires with tailored structure. The first step of the process was the fabrication of the nanoporous template by swift heavy ion irradiation and subsequent selective etching of the ion track. The next step was to fill the pores with the desired combination of materials. In this manner, by sequential electrodeposition steps of metal and semiconductor we prepared Ni -CdTe and Ni -ZnO -Ni nanowires

Chemotaxis: a feedback-based computational model robustly predicts multiple aspects of real cell behaviour

The mechanism of eukaryotic chemotaxis remains unclear despite intensive study. The most frequently described mechanism acts through attractants causing actin polymerization, in turn leading to pseudopod formation and cell movement. We recently proposed an alternative mechanism, supported by several lines of data, in which pseudopods are made by a self-generated cycle. If chemoattractants are present, they modulate the cycle rather than directly causing actin polymerization. The aim of this work is to test the explanatory and predictive powers of such pseudopod-based models to predict the complex behaviour of cells in chemotaxis. We have now tested the effectiveness of this mechanism using a computational model of cell movement and chemotaxis based on pseudopod autocatalysis. The model reproduces a surprisingly wide range of existing data about cell movement and chemotaxis. It simulates cell polarization and persistence without stimuli and selection of accurate pseudopods when chemoattractant gradients are present. It predicts both bias of pseudopod position in low chemoattractant gradients and-unexpectedly-lateral pseudopod initiation in high gradients. To test the predictive ability of the model, we looked for untested and novel predictions. One prediction from the model is that the angle between successive pseudopods at the front of the cell will increase in proportion to the difference between the cell's direction and the direction of the gradient. We measured the angles between pseudopods in chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells under different conditions and found the results agreed with the model extremely well. Our model and data together suggest that in rapidly moving cells like Dictyostelium and neutrophils an intrinsic pseudopod cycle lies at the heart of cell motility. This implies that the mechanism behind chemotaxis relies on modification of intrinsic pseudopod behaviour, more than generation of new pseudopods or actin polymerization by chemoattractant

Periodic and Quasiperiodic Motion of an Elongated Microswimmer in Poiseuille Flow

We study the dynamics of a prolate spheroidal microswimmer in Poiseuille flow for different flow geometries. When moving between two parallel plates or in a cylindrical microchannel, the swimmer performs either periodic swinging or periodic tumbling motion. Although the trajectories of spherical and elongated swimmers are qualitatively similar, the swinging and tumbling frequency strongly depends on the aspect ratio of the swimmer. In channels with reduced symmetry the swimmers perform quasiperiodic motion which we demonstrate explicitely for swimming in a channel with elliptical cross section

Active Brownian Particles. From Individual to Collective Stochastic Dynamics

We review theoretical models of individual motility as well as collective dynamics and pattern formation of active particles. We focus on simple models of active dynamics with a particular emphasis on nonlinear and stochastic dynamics of such self-propelled entities in the framework of statistical mechanics. Examples of such active units in complex physico-chemical and biological systems are chemically powered nano-rods, localized patterns in reaction-diffusion system, motile cells or macroscopic animals. Based on the description of individual motion of point-like active particles by stochastic differential equations, we discuss different velocity-dependent friction functions, the impact of various types of fluctuations and calculate characteristic observables such as stationary velocity distributions or diffusion coefficients. Finally, we consider not only the free and confined individual active dynamics but also different types of interaction between active particles. The resulting collective dynamical behavior of large assemblies and aggregates of active units is discussed and an overview over some recent results on spatiotemporal pattern formation in such systems is given.Comment: 161 pages, Review, Eur Phys J Special-Topics, accepte

Bistability in the actin cortex

Multi-color fluorescence imaging experiments of wave forming Dictyostelium cells have revealed that actin waves separate two domains of the cell cortex that differ in their actin structure and phosphoinositide composition. We propose a bistable model of actin dynamics to account for these experimental observation. The model is based on the simplifying assumption that the actin cytoskeleton is composed of two distinct network types, a dendritic and a bundled network. The two structurally different states that were observed in experiments correspond to the stable fixed points in the bistable regime of this model. Each fixed point is dominated by one of the two network types. The experimentally observed actin waves can be considered as trigger waves that propagate transitions between the two stable fixed points