Figure 6.
Gradual depletion of tangential or normal force-generating proteins in the mathematical model shows opposite phenotypes. (A) Graphical representation of the level of normal force generator over time in each of three cases. (B) Graphical representation of the level of tangential force generator over time in each of three cases. (C) Changes in channel radius over time (case 1: control, no depletion of either protein; case 2: depletion of normal force generator; case 3: depletion of tangential force generator). Depletion of normal force-generating proteins results in constriction of the ring channel opening, whereas depletion of tangential force-generating proteins results in expansion of the ring channel, consistent with earlier results (Fig. 5). Numerical solutions were calculated using Eq. 7. Parameters are listed in Table 1. The normal force a(t) has units pg·μm/s2, and the tangential force C(t) has units pg/s2.