Bioinspired Membrane Interfaces: Controlling Actomyosin Architecture and Contractility.

The creation of biologically inspired artificial lipid bilayers on planar supports provides a unique platform to study membrane-confined processes in a well-controlled setting. At the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, the linkage of the filamentous (F)-actin network is of pivotal importance leading to cell-specific and dynamic F-actin architectures, which are essential for the cell's shape, mechanical resilience, and biological function. These networks are established through the coordinated action of diverse actin-binding proteins and the presence of the plasma membrane.