Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization
The organization of micron-sized, multi-microtubule arrays from individual microtubules is essential for diverse cellular functions. The microtubule polymer is largely viewed as a passive building block during the organization process. An exception is the ‘tubulin code’ where alterations to tubulin...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2021-06-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/63880 |
| _version_ | 1828375176800108544 |
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| author | Nandini Mani Sithara S Wijeratne Radhika Subramanian |
| author_facet | Nandini Mani Sithara S Wijeratne Radhika Subramanian |
| author_sort | Nandini Mani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The organization of micron-sized, multi-microtubule arrays from individual microtubules is essential for diverse cellular functions. The microtubule polymer is largely viewed as a passive building block during the organization process. An exception is the ‘tubulin code’ where alterations to tubulin at the amino acid level can influence the activity of microtubule-associated proteins. Recent studies reveal that micron-scale geometrical features of individual microtubules and polymer networks, such as microtubule length, overlap length, contact angle, and lattice defects, can also regulate the activity of microtubule-associated proteins and modulate polymer dynamics. We discuss how the interplay between such geometrical properties of the microtubule lattice and the activity of associated proteins direct multiple aspects of array organization, from microtubule nucleation and coalignment to specification of array dimensions and remodeling of dynamic networks. The mechanisms reviewed here highlight micron-sized features of microtubules as critical parameters to be routinely investigated in the study of microtubule self-organization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:43:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3fd62ec1803240f2a0ff3256ca71f7b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:43:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-3fd62ec1803240f2a0ff3256ca71f7b02022-12-22T02:05:25ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2021-06-011010.7554/eLife.63880Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organizationNandini Mani0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2025-9103Sithara S Wijeratne1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3935-926XRadhika Subramanian2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3011-9403Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United StatesDepartment of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United StatesDepartment of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United StatesThe organization of micron-sized, multi-microtubule arrays from individual microtubules is essential for diverse cellular functions. The microtubule polymer is largely viewed as a passive building block during the organization process. An exception is the ‘tubulin code’ where alterations to tubulin at the amino acid level can influence the activity of microtubule-associated proteins. Recent studies reveal that micron-scale geometrical features of individual microtubules and polymer networks, such as microtubule length, overlap length, contact angle, and lattice defects, can also regulate the activity of microtubule-associated proteins and modulate polymer dynamics. We discuss how the interplay between such geometrical properties of the microtubule lattice and the activity of associated proteins direct multiple aspects of array organization, from microtubule nucleation and coalignment to specification of array dimensions and remodeling of dynamic networks. The mechanisms reviewed here highlight micron-sized features of microtubules as critical parameters to be routinely investigated in the study of microtubule self-organization.https://elifesciences.org/articles/63880microtubuleself-organizationmicrotubule-associated proteins (MAPs)motor proteinscytoskeletongeometry |
| spellingShingle | Nandini Mani Sithara S Wijeratne Radhika Subramanian Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization eLife microtubule self-organization microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) motor proteins cytoskeleton geometry |
| title | Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization |
| title_full | Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization |
| title_fullStr | Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization |
| title_short | Micron-scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization |
| title_sort | micron scale geometrical features of microtubules as regulators of microtubule organization |
| topic | microtubule self-organization microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) motor proteins cytoskeleton geometry |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/63880 |
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