Mechanical Behavior of Axonal Actin, Spectrin, and Their Periodic Structure: A Brief Review

Actin and spectrin are important constituents of axonal cytoskeleton. Periodic actin-spectrin structures found in dendrites, initial segment axon, main axon. Actin-spectrin periodicity has been hypothesized to be manipulating the axon stability mechanical behavior. Several experimental computational studies have performed focusing on behavior actin, spectrin, network. However, most actin focus typical long F-actin do not provide quantitative comparison between short filaments. Also, erythrocytic shed light structurally different spectrin. Only a few highlighted forced unfolding which relevant brain injury scenario. A comprehensive, strain rate dependent study is still absent literature. Moreover, current opinions regarding periodic network structure disputed due conflicting results ring organization—as argued by recent super-resolution microscopy studies. This review summarizes ongoing limitations this regard provides insights possible approaches address them. will invoke further investigation into high response network—shedding pathology scenario such as traumatic (TBI).