Abstract
The movement of nearly all cell types is controlled by the retrograde motion of a crosslinked network of actin polymers. This retrograde flow is driven by a complex combination of polymerization at one end of the network plus motor driven contraction and depolymerisation at the opposite end. Work in the laboratory has revealed that this network-wide actin flow is highly organized and likely controlled by the mechanics of the network. We will combine computer vision techniques that allow precise quantitation of actin flows in migrating cells with computational modelling in order to understand the biophysical control of actin motion.
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