Thursday, 09 August, 2007
Viscoelasticity of Isotropically Cross-Linked Actin Networks
R. Tharmann, M.M.A.E. Claessens and A.R. Bausch -
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 088103 (2007)
Despite their importance for the proper function of living cells, the physical properties of cross-linked actin networks remain poorly understood as the occurrence of heterogeneities hamper a quantitative physical description. The isotropic homogenously cross-linked actin network presented here enables us to quantitatively relate the network response to a single filament model by determining the dominating length scale. The frequency dependence of the linear response and nonuniversal form of the nonlinear response reveal the importance of cross-linker unbinding events.