ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some tentative steps that have been taken in this direction, examining the mechanics of protein filaments, both as individual elements and as cross-linked bundles, and the ability of polymerizing filaments to generate force. It considers the properties of the meshwork of interconnected protein filaments in the cytoplasm. The chapter looks at the membranes of the cell, especially the plasma membrane, and assesses their contribution to the mechanical properties of the entire system. The behavior of proteins filaments, both as individual structures and in large assemblies, is greatly influenced by conformational changes in their subunits. Mention of kinetics reminds that cytoskeletal filaments are highly dynamic structures that continually grow and shrink in the cell. Even mammalian cells are surprisingly insensitive to changes in the amount of water they contain and can survive the osmotically produced loss of almost a third of their total water without irreversible damage.
