Session Z47: Invited Session: Active, Non-Equilibrium Dynamics in Complex Cellular Networks

Probing mechanics and activity of cytoskeletal networks using carbon nanotubes

We use single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as multi-scale micro-probes to monitor transport and fluctuations in cytoskeletal networks. SWNTs are nanometer-diameter hollow carbon filaments with micrometer lengths and a tunable bending stiffness. Their persistence length varies between 20-100 microns. We study the motion of individual SWNTs in reconstituted actin networks by near-infrared fluorescence microscopy. At long times, SWNTs reptate through the networks. At short times, SWNTs sample the spectrum of thermal fluctuations in the networks. We can calculate complex shear moduli from recorded fluctuations and observe power-law scaling in equilibrium actin networks. In the non-equilibrium cytoskeleton of cells we have targeted SWNTs to kinesin motors and thereby to their microtubule tracks. We observe both transport along the tracks as well as active fluctuations of the tracks themselves.   

Criticalities in crosslinked actin networks due to myosin activity

Many essential processes in cells and tissues, like motility and morphogenesis, are orchestrated by molecular motors applying internal, active stresses on crosslinked networks of actin filaments. Using scaling analysis, mean-field calculation, numerical modelling and \textit{in vitro} experiments of such active networks we predict and observe different mechanical regimes exhibiting interesting critical behaviours with non-trivial power-law dependencies. Firstly, we find that the presence of active stresses can dramatically increase the stiffness of a floppy network, as was observed in reconstituted intracellular F-actin networks with myosin motors and extracellular gels with contractile cells. Uniform internal stress results in an anomalous, critical mechanical regime only in the vicinity of the rigidity percolation points of the network. However, taking into account heterogeneity of motors, we demonstrate that the motors, stiffening any floppy network, induce large non-affine fluctuations, giving rise to a critical mechanical regime. Secondly, upon increasing motor concentration, the resulting large internal stress is able to significantly enhance unbinding of the network's crosslinks and, therefore, disconnect the initially well-connected network to isolated clusters. However, during this process, when the network approaches marginal connectivity the internal stresses are expected to drop drastically such that the connectivity stabilizes. This general argument and detailed numerical simulations show that motors should drive a well connected network to a close vicinity of a critical point of marginal connectivity. Experiments clearly confirm this conclusion and demonstrate robust critical connectivity of initially well-connected networks, ruptured by the motor activity for a wide range of parameters. M. Sheinman, C.P. Broedersz and F.C. MacKintosh, Phys. Rev. Lett, in press. J. Alvarado, M. Sheinman, A. Sharma, F.C. MacKintosh and G. Koenderink, in preparation.   

Nonequilibrium stabilization of an RNA/protein droplet emulsion by nuclear actin

Actin plays a structural role in the cytoplasm. However, actin takes on new functions and structures in the nucleus that are poorly understood. The nuclei of the large oocytes of the frog \textit{X. laevis }specifically accumulate actin to reach high concentrations; however, it remains unclear if this actin polymerizes into a network, and what, if any, structural role such an actin network might play. Here, we use microrheological and confocal imaging techniques to probe the local architecture and mechanics of the nucleus. Our data show that actin forms a weak network that spatially organizes the nucleus by kinetically stabilizing embedded liquid-like RNA/protein bodies which are important for cell growth. In actin-disrupted nuclei this RNA/protein droplet emulsion is destabilized leading to homotypic coalescence into single large droplets. Our data provide intriguing new insights into why large cell nuclei require an actin-based structural scaffold.