Critical role of the motor density and distribution on polar active polymers

Abstract

Polar polymer activity is a fundamental mechanism behind a large number of cellular dynamical processes. The number and location of the active sites on the polymer backbone play a central role in their dynamics and conformational properties. Globular conformations for high motor densities change to stretched ones for the more realistic moderate or low density of motors, with a self-propelled polymer velocity non-monotonically related to the motor density. A small difference in the position of the first motor, or the motor distribution, can also dramatically modify the polymer typical conformations