Geometry-Dependent Defect Merging Induces Bifurcated Dynamics in Active Networks

Fuente: arXiv
Salvato in:
Dettagli Bibliografici
Autori principali: Yang, Fan, Liu, Shichen, Wang, Hao, Lee, Heun Jin, Phillips, Rob, Thomson, Matt
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
Soggetti:
Accesso online:
Tags: Aggiungi Tag
Nessun Tag, puoi essere il primo ad aggiungerne!!
_version_ 1866915484409004032
author Yang, Fan
Liu, Shichen
Wang, Hao
Lee, Heun Jin
Phillips, Rob
Thomson, Matt
author_facet Yang, Fan
Liu, Shichen
Wang, Hao
Lee, Heun Jin
Phillips, Rob
Thomson, Matt
contents Cytoskeletal networks can repair defects to maintain structural integrity. However, the mechanisms and dynamics of defect merging remain poorly understood. Here we report a geometry-tunable merging mechanism in microtubule-motor networks initiated by active crosslinking. We directly generate defects using a light-controlled microtubule-motor system in O-shaped and V-shaped networks, and observe that the defects can self-close. Combining theory and experiment, we find that the V-shaped networks must overcome internal elastic resistance in order to zip up cracks, giving rise to a bifurcation of dynamics dependent on the initial opening angle of the crack: the crack merges below a critical angle and opens up at larger angles. Simulation of a continuum model reproduces the bifurcation dynamics, revealing the importance of overlapping boundary layers where free motors and microtubules can actively crosslink and thereby merge the defects. We also formulate a simple elastic-rod model that can qualitatively predict the critical angle, which is tunable by the network geometry.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_00842
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Geometry-Dependent Defect Merging Induces Bifurcated Dynamics in Active Networks
Yang, Fan
Liu, Shichen
Wang, Hao
Lee, Heun Jin
Phillips, Rob
Thomson, Matt
Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Cytoskeletal networks can repair defects to maintain structural integrity. However, the mechanisms and dynamics of defect merging remain poorly understood. Here we report a geometry-tunable merging mechanism in microtubule-motor networks initiated by active crosslinking. We directly generate defects using a light-controlled microtubule-motor system in O-shaped and V-shaped networks, and observe that the defects can self-close. Combining theory and experiment, we find that the V-shaped networks must overcome internal elastic resistance in order to zip up cracks, giving rise to a bifurcation of dynamics dependent on the initial opening angle of the crack: the crack merges below a critical angle and opens up at larger angles. Simulation of a continuum model reproduces the bifurcation dynamics, revealing the importance of overlapping boundary layers where free motors and microtubules can actively crosslink and thereby merge the defects. We also formulate a simple elastic-rod model that can qualitatively predict the critical angle, which is tunable by the network geometry.
title Geometry-Dependent Defect Merging Induces Bifurcated Dynamics in Active Networks
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.00842