Stochastic dynamics of adhesion clusters under force [Elektronische Ressource] = Stochastische Dynamik von Adhäsionsclustern unter Kraft / von Thorsten Erdmann

Stochastic dynamicsof adhesion clusters under forceStochastische Dynamikvon Adhasionsclustern¨ unter KraftDissertationzur Erlangung des akademischen Gradesdoctor rerum naturalium””(Dr. rer. nat.)in der Wissenschaftsdisziplin Theoretische Physik””eingereicht an derMathematisch Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakulat¨der Universitat¨ Potsdamangefertigt amMax Planck Institut urf¨ Kolloid und Grenzflachenforschung¨in Potsdam GolmvonThorsten ErdmannPotsdam, im April 2005AbstractAdhesion of biological cells to their environment is mediated by two dimensional clusters of spe cific adhesion molecules which are assembled in the plasma membrane of the cells. Due to the activityof the cells or external influences, these adhesion sites are usually subject to physical forces. In recentyears, the influence of such forces on the stability of cellular adhesion clusters was increasingly in vestigated. In particular, experimental methods that were originally designed for the investigation ofsingle bond rupture under force have been applied to investigate the rupture of adhesion clusters. Thetransition from single to multiple bonds, however, is not trivial and requires theoretical modelling.Rupture of biological adhesion molecules is a thermally activated, stochastic process. In this work,a stochastic model for the rupture and rebinding dynamics of clusters of parallel adhesion moleculesunder force is presented.