Actin-based spring in horseshoe crab sperm

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The conversion of chemical energy into mechanical forces that powers cell movements is a ubiquitous theme across biology. Besides molecular motors such as kinesin-microtubule and actin-myosin complexes, biological springs and ratchets can also store and release energy to rectify motion. The acrosome reaction of horseshoe crab sperm is a simple example of a biological spring where a 60μm-long crystalline bundle of actin filaments, tightly cross-linked by actin bundling protein scruin, straightens from a coiled conformation and extends from the cell to penetrate an egg in about five seconds. To identify the basis and mechanism for this movement, we examine the possible sources of chemical and mechanical energy and show that the stored elastic energy alone is sufficient to drive the reaction. We also provide an estimate of the maximum force generated during the uncoiling by stalling the bundle using an agarose gel to show the reaction produces enough force to penetrate the egg.
Publisher
Trans Tech Publications Ltd.
Issue Date
2006-12
Language
English
Citation

KEY ENGINEERING MATERIALS, v.326-328 , no.0, pp.815 - 818

ISSN
1013-9826
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10203/91085
Appears in Collection
ME-Journal Papers(저널논문)
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