Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
10:27
Antifouling Self-assembled Monolayers on Microelectrodes for Patterning Biomolecules
Published on: August 25, 2009
A biopolymer transistor: electrical amplification by microtubules
Avner Priel1, Arnolt J Ramos, Jack A Tuszynski
1Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J1, Canada. apriel@phys.ualberta.ca
Biophysical Journal
|March 28, 2006
Summary
Microtubules (MTs) act as biomolecular transistors, amplifying electrical signals. This discovery reveals new electrodynamic properties of MTs and their potential role in neuronal computation and information processing.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Microtubules (MTs) are crucial cytoskeletal components involved in various cellular functions.
- MTs are implicated in higher neuronal functions like memory and consciousness.
- The electrodynamic properties and information processing capabilities of MTs remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electrodynamic properties of microtubules.
- To determine if microtubules can process electrical information.
- To explore the potential role of MTs in neuronal computation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized isolated, taxol-stabilized microtubules.
- Performed electrodynamic measurements on microtubules.
- Analyzed microtubule behavior as biomolecular transistors.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that isolated microtubules exhibit biomolecular transistor properties.
- Showed that microtubules are capable of amplifying electrical information.
- Identified potential electrodynamic mechanisms for information processing in neurons.
Conclusions:
- Microtubules possess novel electrodynamic properties enabling electrical signal amplification.
- This suggests microtubules may function as ionic-based transistors within neurons.
- The findings open new avenues for understanding neuronal computation and information processing.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Microtubule Formation
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo continuous assembly and disassembly. They originate from specialized multi-protein complexes known as microtubule organizing centers or MTOCs. Within the MTOC, the point of origin of the microtubule is known as the minus end, while the end radiating outward is the plus end. Microtubules serve two primary functions — the organization of spindle complexes to separate sister chromatids during mitotic or meiotic cell division and the formation of...
01:32Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures
Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
01:18Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
01:32Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins
Eukaryotic cells have different motor proteins for transporting various cargo within the cell. These motor proteins differ based on the filament they associate with, the direction they move within the cell, and the type of cargo they transport. Motor proteins that associate with microtubules are known as microtubule-associated motor proteins. There are two families of microtubule-associated motor proteins —Kinesins and Dyneins. Both these proteins assist in the transport of cellular cargos...
01:45Destabilization of Microtubules
The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
01:13Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.