Multiscale Microtubule Dynamics in Active Nematics

Lemma, Linnea; Norton, Michael M.; Tayar, Alexandra M.; DeCamp, Stephen J.; Aghvami, S. Ali; Fraden, Seth; Hagan, Michael F.; Dogic, Zvonimir

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.127.148001

Cited by 28 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The filaments are extending everywhere within the active nematics. The mechanisms by which these local extension generate much faster large-scale dynamics are described elsewhere (52). The predicted decrease in velocity with hybridization for low processivity clusters is more gradual in our model when compared to experimental observations.…”

Section: Estimating the External Load On Dna-motor Clusterssupporting

confidence: 58%

“…In the conventional view, MT-based active nematics are viscous fluids in which motor clusters step along two microtubules, generating interfilament sliding that drives large-scale chaotic motion. Intriguingly, recent experiments visualizing single filament dynamics suggest that interfilament sliding in a dense nematic is not easily connected to the sliding of individual microtubule (52). The results described here suggest an alternative scenario.…”

Section: Estimating the External Load On Dna-motor Clustersmentioning

confidence: 41%

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Active liquid crystals powered by force-sensing DNA-motor clusters

Tayar

Hagan

Dogic

2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Cytoskeletal active nematics exhibit striking nonequilibrium dynamics that are powered by energy-consuming molecular motors. To gain insight into the structure and mechanics of these materials, we design programmable clusters in which kinesin motors are linked by a double-stranded DNA linker. The efficiency by which DNA-based clusters power active nematics depends on both the stepping dynamics of the kinesin motors and the chemical structure of the polymeric linker. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements reveal that the motor clusters, like filamentous microtubules, exhibit local nematic order. The properties of the DNA linker enable the design of force-sensing clusters. When the load across the linker exceeds a critical threshold, the clusters fall apart, ceasing to generate active stresses and slowing the system dynamics. Fluorescence readout reveals the fraction of bound clusters that generate interfilament sliding. In turn, this yields the average load experienced by the kinesin motors as they step along the microtubules. DNA-motor clusters provide a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanism by which nanoscale molecular motors collectively generate mesoscopic active stresses, which in turn power macroscale nonequilibrium dynamics of active nematics.

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Section: Estimating the External Load On Dna-motor Clusterssupporting

confidence: 58%

Section: Estimating the External Load On Dna-motor Clustersmentioning

confidence: 41%

Active liquid crystals powered by force-sensing DNA-motor clusters

Tayar

Hagan

Dogic

2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Introduction-Wiry objects are important to many systems: Spermatozoa and bacteria actuate slender appendages called flagella to swim [1,2]; Eukaryotic cells change and maintain their shape with microtubules and actin filaments [3]; Clays are colloids of electricallycharged ribbons [4]; and fibre-reinforced plastics are light weight meta-materials that can be used for machine parts [5]. Systems with cable-like bodies often display complex and emergent behaviours but have internal structures that are hard to probe experimentally [6]. As a result theoretical and numerical models are needed to complement the experiments and improve understanding.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tubular-body theory for viscous flows

Koens

2022

Phys. Rev. Fluids

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Cable-like bodies play a key role in many interdisciplinary systems but are hard to simulate. Asymptotic theories, called slender-body theories, are effective but apply in specific regimes and can be hard to extend beyond leading order. In this letter we develop an exact slender-body-like theory for the surface traction of cable-like bodies in viscous flow. This theory expresses the traction as a series of solutions to a well-behaved one-dimensional Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. This process can be simply generalised to other systems.

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“…9 In wet active systems, the nutrients that provide the source of energy are, often, heterogeneously dispersed and need to be distributed throughout the system to sustain its activity. For instance, in microtubule-kinesin, the activity is controlled by the concentration of ATP [10][11][12] and this concentration can be heterogeneous.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%