Evolution of growth modes for polyelectrolyte bundles

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 May 4;98(18):187802. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.187802. Epub 2007 Apr 30.

Abstract

Multivalent ions induce attractions between polyelectrolytes, but lead to finite-sized bundles rather than macroscopic phase separation. The kinetics of aggregation and bundle formation of actin is tracked using two different fluorescently labeled populations of F-actin. It is found that the growth mode of these bundles evolves with time and salt concentration, varying from an initial lateral growth to a longitudinal one at later stages. The results suggest that kinetics play a role in bundle growth, but not in the lateral size of bundles, which is constant for linear and branched topologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry*
  • Cations, Divalent / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Magnesium / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cations, Divalent
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Magnesium