Mathematical modeling has been very instrumental in aiding traditional experimental methods in uncovering the mysteries of actin dynamics. Here we review recent quantitative models of actin dynamics focusing on ATP hydrolysis effects, force generation by single actin filaments and networks, self-organization and dynamics of actin networks, dynamics of lamellipodia, filopodia and lamella, and in...

Actin-binding proteins in bovine neutrophil plasma membranes were identified using blot overlays with 125I-labeled F-actin. Along with surface-biotinylated proteins, membranes were enriched in major actin-binding polypeptides of 78, 81, and 205 kDa. Binding was specific for F-actin because G-actin did not bind. Further, unlabeled F-actin blocked the binding of 125I-labeled F-actin whereas other...

This work shows that optical switching between the spiro (SP) and merocyanine (MC) states of different photochromes specifically labeled to G-actin can be used to rapidly and reversibly modulate specific dipolar interactions within the conjugate. Members of a common spirobenzopyran photochrome and a related spironaphthoxazine that differ only in the locations of their alkylating groups were sel...

The actin cytoskeleton is the primary polymer system within cells responsible for regulating cellular stiffness. While various actin binding proteins regulate the organization and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, the proteins responsible for regulating the mechanical properties of cells are still not fully understood. In the present study, we have addressed the significance of the actin asso...

Precise regulation of the dendritic spine actin cytoskeleton is critical for neurodevelopment and neuronal plasticity, but how neurons spatially control actin dynamics is not well defined. Here, we identify direct palmitoylation of the actin regulator LIM kinase-1 (LIMK1) as a novel mechanism to control spine-specific actin dynamics. A conserved palmitoyl-motif is necessary and sufficient to ta...

We have analyzed intracellular distributions of mRNAs for the cytoskeletal proteins actin, vimentin, and tubulin by in situ hybridization. Although polyadenylated RNA was homogeneously distributed throughout the cell, actin mRNA demonstrated a nonhomogeneous distribution in 95% of randomly selected chicken embryonic myoblasts and fibroblasts, as detected by isotopic and nonisotopic techniques. ...

Actin is a highly conserved protein important for many cellular functions including motility, contraction in muscles and intracellular transport. Many eukaryotic genomes encode multiple actin protein isoforms that differ from each other by only a few residues. We addressed whether the sequence differences between actin paralogues in one species affect their ability to integrate into the large v...