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The Actomyosin Cortex of Cells: A Thin Film of Active Matter

  • Review Article
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Journal of the Indian Institute of Science Aims and scope

Abstract

The actomyosin cortex is a thin film, containing actin filaments and myosin molecular motors, located beneath the plasma-membrane of eukaryotic cells. Active processes, driven by ATP hydrolysis, can generate mechanical forces in the cortex. Coordinated force-generation drives large-scale mechanical flows and orientation patterns. These flows can pattern proteins coupled to the cortex leading to the emergence of active mechanochemical patterns. In this review, we discuss physical approaches to understand force-generation and the concomitant patterns observed in the actomyosin cortex. We briefly outline the hydrodynamic theory of active gels as applicable to the cortex and discuss its consequences. We speculate on the role of the actomyosin cortex in sculpting large-scale tissues and end with an outlook for open problems.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge support from the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, under project number 12-R&D-TFR-5.10-1100, the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for a Ramalingaswami re-entry fellowship, and the Max Planck Society via a Max-Planck-Partner-Group at ICTS-TIFR. We thank Aditya Singh Rajput and Siddharth Jha for discussions and comments.

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  1. International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Survey 151, Shivakote Village, Hesaraghatta Hobli, Bengaluru, 560089, India

    K. Vijay Kumar

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Kumar, K.V. The Actomyosin Cortex of Cells: A Thin Film of Active Matter. J Indian Inst Sci 101, 97–112 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-020-00220-2

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