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Science 28 May 2004:
Vol. 304. no. 5675, pp. 1301 - 1305
DOI: 10.1126/science.1095087
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Reports

Elastic Behavior of Cross-Linked and Bundled Actin Networks

M. L. Gardel,1 J. H. Shin,3,4 F. C. MacKintosh,5 L. Mahadevan,2 P. Matsudaira,4 D. A. Weitz1,2*

Networks of cross-linked and bundled actin filaments are ubiquitous in the cellular cytoskeleton, but their elasticity remains poorly understood. We show that these networks exhibit exceptional elastic behavior that reflects the mechanical properties of individual filaments. There are two distinct regimes of elasticity, one reflectingbendingof single filaments and a second reflectingstretchingof entropic fluctuations of filament length. The mechanical stiffness can vary by several decades with small changes in cross-link concentration, and can increase markedly upon application of external stress. We parameterize the full range of behavior in a state diagram and elucidate its origin with a robust model.

1 Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
2 Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
4 Department of Biology and Division of Biological Engineering, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
5 Division of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: weitz{at}deas.harvard.edu

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