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...

Any object that obeys Newton's second law of motion is made up of a large number of infinitesimally small particles. Objects in motion can be as simple as atoms or as complex as gymnasts performing in the Olympics. The motion of such objects is described about a point called the center of mass of the object. The center of mass of an object is a point that acts as if the whole mass is concentrated at that point. The center of mass of an object with a large number of infinitesimally small...

The center of mass of an object is defined as the mass-weighted average position of all the particles that comprise the object. The significance of the center of mass of an object can be seen by looking at its dynamics. The time derivative of the center of mass gives its velocity, assuming that the object's mass remains constant over time. Furthermore, the total linear momentum of an object can be seen as the linear momentum of a single particle of the object's total mass moving with the...

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...

The center of mass is the point at which the total mass of an object can be said to be concentrated. It is a fundamental principle in mechanics and physics that applies to all objects regardless of their shape or size. The center of gravity is the point at which an object’s weight appears to be concentrated and can be used to balance the object perfectly.
The knowledge of the center of mass can also help us to describe and predict the motion of objects. For example, when a ball is thrown into...