TY - JOUR
T1 - Cytoplasmic diffusion
T2 - Molecular motors mix it up
AU - Brangwynne, Clifford P.
AU - Koenderink, Gijsje H.
AU - MacKintosh, Frederick C.
AU - Weitz, David A.
PY - 2008/11/17
Y1 - 2008/11/17
N2 - Random motion within the cytoplasm gives rise to molecular diffusion; this motion is essential to many biological processes. However, in addition to thermal Brownian motion, the cytoplasm also undergoes constant agitation caused by the activity of molecular motors and other nonequilibrium cellular processes. Here, we discuss recent work that suggests this activity can give rise to cytoplasmic motion that has the appearance of diffusion but is significantly enhanced in its magnitude and which can play an important biological role, particularly in cytoskeletal assembly.
AB - Random motion within the cytoplasm gives rise to molecular diffusion; this motion is essential to many biological processes. However, in addition to thermal Brownian motion, the cytoplasm also undergoes constant agitation caused by the activity of molecular motors and other nonequilibrium cellular processes. Here, we discuss recent work that suggests this activity can give rise to cytoplasmic motion that has the appearance of diffusion but is significantly enhanced in its magnitude and which can play an important biological role, particularly in cytoskeletal assembly.
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U2 - 10.1083/jcb.200806149
DO - 10.1083/jcb.200806149
M3 - Short survey
C2 - 19001127
AN - SCOPUS:58149190132
SN - 0021-9525
VL - 183
SP - 583
EP - 587
JO - Journal of Cell Biology
JF - Journal of Cell Biology
IS - 4
ER -