Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization
Summary: Active filament networks can organize into various dynamic architectures driven by cross-linking motors. Densities and kinetic properties of motors and microtubules have been shown previously to determine active microtubule network self-organization, but the effects of other control paramet...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-02-01
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| Series: | iScience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004223001402 |
| _version_ | 1797903304629420032 |
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| author | Wei-Xiang Chew Gil Henkin François Nédélec Thomas Surrey |
| author_facet | Wei-Xiang Chew Gil Henkin François Nédélec Thomas Surrey |
| author_sort | Wei-Xiang Chew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Active filament networks can organize into various dynamic architectures driven by cross-linking motors. Densities and kinetic properties of motors and microtubules have been shown previously to determine active microtubule network self-organization, but the effects of other control parameters are less understood. Using computer simulations, we study here how microtubule lengths and crowding effects determine active network architecture and dynamics. We find that attractive interactions mimicking crowding effects or long microtubules both promote the formation of extensile nematic networks instead of asters. When microtubules are very long and the network is highly connected, a new isotropically motile network state resembling a “gliding mesh” is predicted. Using in vitro reconstitutions, we confirm the existence of this gliding mesh experimentally. These results provide a better understanding of how active microtubule network organization can be controlled, with implications for cell biology and active materials in general. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:30:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d872549c6b545a18fff21be7b7308c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2589-0042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:30:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | iScience |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d872549c6b545a18fff21be7b7308c82023-02-19T04:27:06ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422023-02-01262106063Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organizationWei-Xiang Chew0Gil Henkin1François Nédélec2Thomas Surrey3Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, SpainCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, SpainSainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK; Corresponding authorCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Passeig de Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Corresponding authorSummary: Active filament networks can organize into various dynamic architectures driven by cross-linking motors. Densities and kinetic properties of motors and microtubules have been shown previously to determine active microtubule network self-organization, but the effects of other control parameters are less understood. Using computer simulations, we study here how microtubule lengths and crowding effects determine active network architecture and dynamics. We find that attractive interactions mimicking crowding effects or long microtubules both promote the formation of extensile nematic networks instead of asters. When microtubules are very long and the network is highly connected, a new isotropically motile network state resembling a “gliding mesh” is predicted. Using in vitro reconstitutions, we confirm the existence of this gliding mesh experimentally. These results provide a better understanding of how active microtubule network organization can be controlled, with implications for cell biology and active materials in general.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004223001402Biological sciencesCell biologyFunctional aspects of cell biologyBiophysics |
| spellingShingle | Wei-Xiang Chew Gil Henkin François Nédélec Thomas Surrey Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization iScience Biological sciences Cell biology Functional aspects of cell biology Biophysics |
| title | Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization |
| title_full | Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization |
| title_fullStr | Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization |
| title_short | Effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization |
| title_sort | effects of microtubule length and crowding on active microtubule network organization |
| topic | Biological sciences Cell biology Functional aspects of cell biology Biophysics |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004223001402 |
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