Friday, March 12, 2004
1:30pm Ð 2:30pm
Professor Thomas Daniel
University of Washington
Abstract:
Myosin molecules are the molecular motors that convert chemical energy
into mechanical work. In muscle,
they do so in a compliant lattice of filamentous proteins to create forces that
drive animal motions. We examine
how the mechanics and geometry of that filament lattice interact with the kinetics
of protein interactions to determine the dynamics of force production by a
large system of interacting motor molecules. Using a Monte-Carlo method immersed in a finite
element model, we simulate muscle contraction. We are particularly interested in force production and
energy utilization covary.