Oscillations in molecular motor assemblies

Autonomous oscillations in biological systems may have a
biochemical origin or result from an interplay between
force-generating and visco-elastic elements. In molecular motor
assemblies the force-generating elements are molecular engines and
the visco-elastic elements are stiff cytoskeletal polymers. The
physical mechanism leading to oscillations depends on the
particular architecture of the assembly. Existing models can be
grouped into two distinct categories: systems with a delayed force
activation and anomalous force– velocity relations. We discuss
these systems within phase plane analysis known from the theory of
dynamic systems and by adopting methods from control theory, the
Nyquist stability criterion.