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Related Concept Videos

Microtubules01:35

Microtubules

There are three types of cytoskeletal structures in eukaryotic cells—microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the thickest of these fibers. Microtubules carry out a variety of functions that include cell structure and support, transport of organelles, cell motility (movement), and the separation of chromosomes during cell division.Microtubules are hollow tubes whose walls are made up of globular tubulin proteins. Each tubulin...
Microtubules01:18

Microtubules

Microtubules are the thickest cytoskeletal filaments with a diameter of 25 nm. In prokaryotic organisms, microtubules are commonly found in locomotory appendages like cilia and flagella. In eukaryotic cells, microtubules form specialized extensions for moving fluid over the surface, like those found in cells lining the intestine.
Microtubules have two structurally similar globular protein subunits: α and β tubulins. In the cytosol, the α and β tubulins form a heterodimer. These αβ-heterodimers...
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly 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.
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated assembly and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
08:49

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

Microtubule organization: cell shape is destiny.

Steven B Haase1, Daniel J Lew

  • 1Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA. shaase@duke.edu

Current Biology : CB
|April 5, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Cytoplasmic microtubule bundles self-assemble to guide cell division in fission yeast. The cell

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cytoskeletal Dynamics
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Microtubules are crucial for cell division and organization.
  • Spindle assembly requires precise microtubule organization.
  • Cytoplasmic microtubule organization mechanisms are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the self-assembly pathway of cytoplasmic microtubule bundles.
  • To understand how these bundles locate the cell center and guide spindle assembly.
  • To determine the role of cell shape in correcting spindle orientation errors.

Main Methods:

  • Live-cell imaging of microtubules in fission yeast.
  • Genetic manipulation to study microtubule assembly mutants.
  • Computational modeling of microtubule dynamics and cell shape interactions.

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Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy
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Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy

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High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast
10:23

High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast

Published on: April 20, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
08:49

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy
14:23

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy

Published on: March 6, 2018

High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast
10:23

High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast

Published on: April 20, 2017

Main Results:

  • A simple self-assembly pathway generates functional cytoplasmic microtubule bundles.
  • These bundles effectively locate the cell center and guide spindle assembly.
  • The cylindrical cell shape intrinsically corrects spindle orientation errors.

Conclusions:

  • Self-assembling cytoplasmic microtubules are key regulators of cell division.
  • Fission yeast's cylindrical shape provides inherent spindle orientation stability.
  • A checkpoint for spindle orientation is rendered unnecessary by the cell's geometry and microtubule organization.