Shape Remodeling of Active Cytoskeletal Vesicles

Abstract

Living cells rely on the self organization mechanisms of cytoskeleton to adapt to their requirements. Especially in processes such as cell division, intracellular transport or cellular motility the controlled self assembly to well defined structures, which still allow a dynamic reorganization on different time scales are of outstanding importance. Thereby, the intricate interplay of cytoskeletal filaments, crosslinking proteins, molecular motors and the lipid membrane play a central role. One important and promising strategy to identify the underlying governing principles is to quantify the physical process in model systems mimicking the functional units of living cells. Here I will present in vitro minimal model systems consisting of actin filaments, crosslinking molecules and myosin II encapsulated into lipid vesicles. I will discuss how a balance of local force exertion and tension generation results in blebbing, invagination or tethering of the lipid membrane.