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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
08:31
Measurement of Microtubule Dynamics by Spinning Disk Microscopy in Monopolar Mitotic Spindles
Published on: November 15, 2019
Information processing mechanisms in microtubules at physiological temperature: Model predictions for experimental
T J A Craddock1, C Beauchemin, J A Tuszynski
1Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2J1. tcraddoc@phys.ualberta.ca
Bio Systems
|May 30, 2009
Summary
Microtubules (MTs) show potential for information processing. Cellular automata models, based on tubulin
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Computational Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microtubules (MTs) exhibit signaling and conductivity.
- Theoretical models suggest MTs for classical and quantum information processing.
- Controversies exist regarding physiological temperature effects on MT information processing capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate information processing in microtubules.
- Explore classical statistical physics principles for MT information processing.
- Model MTs using cellular automata based on tubulin's electrostatic properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cellular automata (CA) models.
- Incorporated neighbor rules based on tubulin's electrostatic properties.
- Employed both synchronous and asynchronous updating methods.
Main Results:
- Developed a phase diagram of MT dynamic behaviors.
- Demonstrated MTs' potential for information processing, storage, and signal propagation.
- Linked dynamic behaviors to experimentally verifiable physical parameters.
Conclusions:
- Classical statistical physics principles support information processing in MTs.
- Cellular automata models provide insights into MT functional dynamics.
- The study offers a framework for experimentally verifying MT information processing capabilities.
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