(53g) Thermodynamic Control of Organization and Self-Assembly of Cytoskeletal Networks Far Away from Equilibrium

Nonequilibrium self-organization allows the generation of structures that are inaccessible in equilibrium self-assembly. Understanding the role of nonequilibrium driving in self-organization is crucial for developing a predictive description of biological systems, yet it is impeded by their complexity. The actin cytoskeleton serves as a paradigm for how nonequilibrium forces give rise to self-organization. In this talk, I will focus on investigating the interplay of energy dissipation, force generation, and emergent architectures in cytoskeletal networks using non-equilibrium statistical mechanics and computational simulations. In particular, I will discuss how non-equilibrium driving forces due to actin polymerization and activities of molecular motors can be thermodynamically related to the emergent structures of cytoskeletal networks. We are able to identify a unique control principle governing the adaptable formation of non-equilibrium structures in actomyosin networks from a thermodynamic perspective. This work elucidates the relationship between energy dissipation, effective interactions, and pattern formation in active biopolymer networks, and may open an avenue to synthesize bio-inspired active adaptive materials.