Polymerization and disassembly of polar actin filaments enable cellular shape adaptation and motility. However, the interplay of actin-binding proteins controlling these dynamics is poorly understood. In this thesis, a mechanism is presented by which phase separation and localization of VASP at lipid bilayers enable reconstitution of the assembly of bundled actin filaments. The phase-separated VASP bound to actin bundles controls the disassembly rate by cofilin, leading to treadmilling of actin bundles and formation of highly ordered actin networks.
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Polymerization and disassembly of polar actin filaments enable cellular shape adaptation and motility. However, the interplay of actin-binding proteins controlling these dynamics is poorly understood. In this thesis, a mechanism is presented by which phase separation and localization of VASP at lipid bilayers enable reconstitution of the assembly of bundled actin filaments. The phase-separated VASP bound to actin bundles controls the disassembly rate by cofilin, leading to treadmilling of actin...
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