Active Gel — Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Actin filaments + molecular motors: self-organizing active matter

Parameters

Active gels are networks of semiflexible filaments (actin, microtubules) driven by molecular motors (myosin) that consume ATP.

Above a critical activity, the system spontaneously flows and forms asters, vortices, and propagating waves — even without external driving.

Green filaments are polar (active), grey are passive crosslinks.