dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaPower-law rheology and mechano-sensing in a cytoskeleton model with forced protein unfolding
| Authors | Brenton D. Hoffman, Gladys Massiera, John C. Crocker |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0504051 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0504051 |
Abstract
We describe a model of cytoskeletal mechanics based on the force-induced conformational change of protein cross-links in a stressed polymer network. Slow deformation of simulated networks containing cross-links that undergo repeated, serial domain unfolding leads to an unusual state--with many cross-links accumulating near the critical force for further unfolding. Thermal activation of these links gives rise to power-law rheology resembling the previously unexplained mechanical response of living cells. Moreover, we hypothesize that such protein cross-links function as biochemical mechano-sensors of cytoskeletal deformation.
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"date_created": "2026-03-02T18:00:57.389000Z",
"date_modified": "2026-03-02T18:00:57.389000Z",
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"abstract": "We describe a model of cytoskeletal mechanics based on the force-induced\nconformational change of protein cross-links in a stressed polymer network.\nSlow deformation of simulated networks containing cross-links that undergo\nrepeated, serial domain unfolding leads to an unusual state--with many\ncross-links accumulating near the critical force for further unfolding. Thermal\nactivation of these links gives rise to power-law rheology resembling the\npreviously unexplained mechanical response of living cells. Moreover, we\nhypothesize that such protein cross-links function as biochemical\nmechano-sensors of cytoskeletal deformation.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0504051",
"authors": [
"Brenton D. Hoffman",
"Gladys Massiera",
"John C. Crocker"
],
"categories": [
"physics.bio-ph",
"cond-mat.soft",
"q-bio.SC"
],
"title": "Power-law rheology and mechano-sensing in a cytoskeleton model with forced protein unfolding",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0504051"
},
"schema_id": "dorsal/arxiv",
"source": {
"execution_id": "67e63431-cb88-4d90-8b6d-2563fef9cc5f",
"id": "arXiv Dataset IDs",
"type": "Model",
"variant": "snapshot-2026-03-01",
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