Self-organization of treadmilling microtubules into a polar array
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Ivan V. Maly [1] ; Gary G. Borisy [1]
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[1] Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Township of Evanston, Estados Unidos
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- Localización: Trends in cell biology, ISSN 0962-8924, Vol. 12, Nº 10, 2002, págs. 462-465
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
The centrosome is normally thought to determine the cell center and to dictate the formation of a radial array of microtubules that defines the spatial organization of cytoplasm. However, experiments indicate the existence of a mechanism for organization of a centered microtubule array that is independent of the centrosome. Here, we formulate a model of treadmilling dynamics of non-centrosomal microtubules that predicts a spontaneously established, polarized distribution of microtubule orientation. Based on this model, we propose that the autonomous ability of non-centrosomal microtubules to form a polarized array arises from their treadmilling within the space constrained by the cell boundary.
