Figure 3.

Calculated distance dependence of the forces on the CS. Calculated forces on the CS. All distances x are normalized by the cell radius R. (A) Normalized net forces on the CS as functions of the normalized distance from the CS to the center (CS shifts to the right side of the center). Solid, dashed, and dotted curves correspond to the dynein, myosin, and pushing forces, respectively. The dynein force is in the unit of aL (average dynein force per MT; a is the dynein force per unit length, and L is the dynamic instability length). The myosin force is in the unit of bL² (average actin drag force per MT; b is the drag force per unit area). The pushing force is in the unit of f_push (average pushing force per MT). (B) The total net force on the CS in units of f_push in the case when aL ≈ 3f_push and bL² = 8f_push. Solid line, control cell; dashed line, dynein-inhibited cell; dotted line, myosin-inhibited cell; and dot-dashed line, cell with both dynein and myosin inhibited. (C) In the case when aL ≈ 3f_push and bL² = 8f_push, the total force on the CS calculated in the nocodazole-affected cell (the nocodazole-affected wedge extends half-way to the center) is shown for the control cell (solid line) and myosin-inhibited cell (dashed line). The inset zooms-in to the region near the cell center to illustrate the signs of the forces there. Black dots show the predicted equilibrium CS positions. Green arrows are centering, inward (negative) forces; red arrows are decentering, outward (positive) forces.