Journal of Biomechanics
Volume 43, Issue 1 , Pages 23-30, 5 January 2010

Mechanics of microtubules

  • Taviare Hawkins

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physics, Mt. Holyoke College
  • ,
  • Matthew Mirigian

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physics, 302 Hasbrouck Laboratory 666 N. Pleasant St. University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, United States
  • ,
  • M. Selcuk Yasar

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physics, 302 Hasbrouck Laboratory 666 N. Pleasant St. University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, United States
  • ,
  • Jennifer L. Ross

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physics, 302 Hasbrouck Laboratory 666 N. Pleasant St. University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, United States
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.

Accepted 21 August 2009. published online 09 October 2009.

Abstract 

Microtubules are rigid cytoskeletal filaments, and their mechanics affect cell morphology and cellular processes. For instance, microtubules for the support structures for extended morphologies, such as axons and cilia. Further, microtubules act as tension rods to pull apart chromosomes during cellular division. Unlike other cytoskeletal filaments (e.g., actin) that work as large networks, microtubules work individually or in small groups, so their individual mechanical properties are quite important to their cellular function. In this review, we explore the past work on the mechanics of individual microtubules, which have been studied for over a quarter of a century. We also present some prospective on future endeavors to determine the molecular mechanisms that control microtubule rigidity.

Keywords: Flexural rigidity, Flexibility, Microtubule bundle, Cytoskeletal network

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PII: S0021-9290(09)00496-5

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.09.005

Refers to corrigendum:

  • Corrigendum to: “Mechanics of microtubules by T. Hawkins, M. Mirigian, M. S. Yasar, J. L. Ross” [J. Biomech. 43(1) (2010) pp. 23–30] , 22 April 2011

    Taviare Hawkins, Matthew Mirigian, M. Selcuk Yasar, Jennifer L. Ross
    Journal of Biomechanics 3 June 2011 (Vol. 44, Issue 9, Pages 1829-1830)

Journal of Biomechanics
Volume 43, Issue 1 , Pages 23-30, 5 January 2010