https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/e2005-00002-5
Regular Articles
Generic theory of active polar gels: a paradigm for cytoskeletal dynamics
1
Max-Planck Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzerstr. 38, 01187, Dresden, Germany
2
Physicochimie Curie (CNRS-UMR168), Institut Curie, Section de Recherche, 26 rue d’Ulm, 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France
3
E.S.P.C.I, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
4
LDFC Institut de Physique, 3 rue de l’Université, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France
* e-mail: julicher@mpipks-dresden.mpg.de
Received:
14
May
2004
Published online:
31
January
2005
We develop a general theory for active viscoelastic materials made of polar filaments. This theory is motivated by the dynamics of the cytoskeleton. The continuous consumption of a fuel leads to a non equilibrium state characterized by the generation of flows and stresses. Our theory can be applied to experiments in which cytoskeletal patterns are set in motion by active processes such as those which are at work in cells.
© EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag, 2005
