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Related Concept Videos

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.
Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)01:42

Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)

Microtubule function and architecture are regulated by an array of specialized proteins called microtubule-associated proteins or MAPs. These proteins are widespread across different organisms and have conserved protein motifs, like the multi-TOG domain for tubulin binding found in the CLASP family of MAPs. Some MAPs are lineage-specific based on their conserved domains. Their functions depend upon the cytoskeletal architecture and cell type they are located within. In-plant cells, a specific...
Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule 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...
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...
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.
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Simultaneous Visualization of the Dynamics of Crosslinked and Single Microtubules In Vitro by TIRF Microscopy
07:20

Simultaneous Visualization of the Dynamics of Crosslinked and Single Microtubules In Vitro by TIRF Microscopy

Published on: February 18, 2022

Intracellular spatial localization regulated by the microtubule network.

Jing Chen1, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, Jian Liu

  • 1National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.

Plos One
|April 26, 2012
PubMed
Summary

The cell's microtubule network, particularly the mitotic spindle, acts as a crucial mechanism for organizing molecules. This dynamic structure concentrates specific molecules, influencing cellular processes like division and development.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Simultaneous Visualization of the Dynamics of Crosslinked and Single Microtubules In Vitro by TIRF Microscopy
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Published on: February 18, 2022

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Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

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

Published on: April 20, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Cells use membrane-bound compartments and organelles for spatial organization.
  • The role of the microtubule network in cellular spatial regulation is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the microtubule network as a mechanism for spatial regulation within the cell using computational modeling.
  • To explore how the microtubule network influences molecular distribution and concentration.

Main Methods:

  • Computational modeling was employed to simulate molecular dynamics within the microtubule network.
  • The model focused on molecules with binding affinity for microtubules, including dynein-directed cargoes.

Main Results:

  • The mitotic spindle can significantly sequester and concentrate molecules that bind to microtubules.
  • The model successfully replicated experimental observations in Drosophila, including germ plasm sequestration, asymmetric cell division, and diffusional blocking.

Conclusions:

  • Cell cycle-dependent changes in the microtubule network are vital for spatial regulation.
  • The microtubule network creates a "structured cytoplasm" by acting as an extensive docking platform for molecules.