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Elasticity of Semiflexible Biopolymer Networks

F. C. MacKintosh, J. Kas, P. A. Janmey

cond-matarXiv:cond-mat/9507093

Abstract

We develop a model for gels and entangled solutions of semiflexible biopolymers such as F-actin. Such networks play a crucial structural role in the cytoskeleton of cells. We show that the rheologic properties of these networks can result from nonclassical rubber elasticity. This model can explain a number of elastic properties of such networks in vitro, including the concentration dependence of the storage modulus and yield strain.

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