Application of Flory-Stockmayer Theory to Actomyosin Networks Reveals Multiple Connectivity States that Give Rise to Distinct Behaviors of the Network

An actomyosin network is an active mesoscopic material, formed by actin and myosin motors, that gives structure to cells and plays a key role in cell locomotion, transport, cell deformation, and mechanical sensing. Several actin-binding proteins such as α-actinin and Arp2/3 allow the myosin motors to produce large-scale motions by linking together and branching actin filaments. The type and degree of connectivity regulates the dynamical behavior...