Actin polymerization front propagation in a comb-reaction system

TL;DR

This paper explores actin polymerization in a comb-like geometry, analyzing how transport and reaction dynamics vary with reagent concentration, revealing regimes of reaction front failure and finite-speed propagation.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework for understanding actin polymerization in complex geometries, identifying conditions for different reaction front behaviors.

Findings

Reaction front can fail or propagate with finite speed depending on reagent concentration.

Two limiting regimes are identified: reaction failure and Fisher-KPP asymptotic regime.

Theoretical grounds for experimental realization are established.

Abstract

Anomalous transport and reaction dynamics are considered by providing the theoretical grounds for the possible experimental realization of actin polymerization in comb-like geometry. Two limiting regimes are recovered, depending on the concentration of reagents (magnesium and actin). These are both the failure of the reaction front propagation and a finite speed corresponding to the Fisher-KPP long time asymptotic regime.