On the Properties of a Bundle of Flexible Actin Filaments in an Optical Trap

TL;DR

This paper develops a statistical mechanics model for a bundle of flexible actin filaments pressing against a movable obstacle in an optical trap, analyzing force generation and filament behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical framework for flexible actin filament bundles interacting with a force-application device, extending prior models to include filament flexibility and polymerization dynamics.

Findings

Rigid filaments' stalling force matches Hill's predictions.

Flexible filaments produce slightly larger average forces than rigid ones.

Stalling force is nearly independent of trap length, depending on filament contact fraction and buckling force.

Abstract

We establish the Statistical Mechanics framework for a bundle of Nf living and uncrosslinked actin filaments in a supercritical solution of free monomers pressing against a mobile wall. The filaments are anchored normally to a fixed planar surface at one of their ends and, because of their limited flexibility, they grow almost parallel to each other. Their growing ends hit a moving obstacle, depicted as a second planar wall, parallel to the previous one and subjected to a harmonic compressive force. The force constant is denoted as trap strength while the distance between the two walls as trap length to make contact with the experimental optical trap apparatus. For an ideal solution of reactive filaments and free monomers at fixed free monomers chemical potential, we obtain the general expression for the grand potential from which we derive averages and distributions of relevant physical quantities, namely the obstacle position, the bundle polymerization force and the number of filaments in direct contact with the wall. The grafted living filaments are modeled as discrete Wormlike chains, with Factin persistence length, subject to discrete contour length variations to model single monomer (de)polymerization steps. Rigid filaments, either isolated or in bundles, all provide average values of the stalling force in agreement with Hill's predictions, independent of the average trap length. Flexible filaments instead, for values of the trap strength suitable to prevent their lateral escape, provide an average bundle force and an average trap length slightly larger than the corresponding rigid cases (few percents). Still the stalling force remains nearly independent on the average trap length, but results from the product of two strongly L dependent contributions: the fraction of touching filaments and the single filament buckling force.