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Related Experiment Videos

Spatial structures in microtubular solutions requiring a sustained energy source.

J Tabony1, D Job

  • 1Département de Biologie Moléculaire et Structurale, B.R.C.E.-C.S., Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires, Grenoble, France.

Nature
|August 2, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Microtubules spontaneously form striped patterns, demonstrating energy dissipation crucial for complex life. These microtubular dissipative structures may play roles in cell division and embryo development.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Microtubules organize cellular interiors and are crucial for cell division, morphogenesis, and embryo development.
  • Cellular responses to stimuli often involve dynamic changes in microtubule spatial organization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spontaneous formation of macroscopic patterns in microtubule solutions.
  • To elucidate the physical and chemical mechanisms underlying microtubule self-organization.
  • To explore the potential role of microtubules in forming energy-dissipative structures.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of spontaneous stripe formation in microtubule solutions.
  • Small-angle neutron scattering to analyze microtubule alignment within stripes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Phosphorus Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to track phosphate conversion.

    • Main Results:

    • Microtubule solutions spontaneously formed alternating white and dark stripes (1 mm wide, 1 cm long).
    • Small-angle neutron scattering revealed oblique microtubule alignment within stripes, with orthogonal orientations between adjacent stripes.
    • Energy-liberating conversion of organic to inorganic phosphate was observed, indicating an energy-dissipative process.

    Conclusions:

    • The observed striped structures are energy-dissipative, analogous to chemical dissipative structures like the Belousov-Zhabotinski reaction.
    • Microtubules are capable of forming dissipative structures, suggesting a fundamental role in biological organization.
    • These microtubular dissipative structures may be relevant to processes such as mitosis and embryonic morphogenesis.