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Related Concept Videos

Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

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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...
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Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

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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...
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Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

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The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
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Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule Formation

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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...
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Microtubules01:18

Microtubules

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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....
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Microtubules01:35

Microtubules

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 18, 2026

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

Published on: February 18, 2022

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Modern methods to interrogate microtubule dynamics.

Megan Bailey1, Leslie Conway, Michael W Gramlich

  • 1Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 01003, USA.

Integrative Biology : Quantitative Biosciences From Nano to Macro
|September 25, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microtubules are dynamic protein filaments essential for cell structure and rearrangement. Their inherent "dynamic instability" is driven by guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis, crucial for cell division and development.

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Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
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Simultaneous Visualization of the Dynamics of Crosslinked and Single Microtubules In Vitro by TIRF Microscopy
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High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast
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Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Background:

  • Microtubules are essential protein filaments providing structural support and enabling cellular rearrangements.
  • Their mechanical integrity must balance stiffness with dynamic instability for processes like cell division.
  • This dynamic behavior is intrinsically linked to guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review microscopy techniques used to study microtubule dynamic instability.
  • To highlight current research challenges and future directions in understanding this phenomenon.

Main Methods:

  • Review of various microscopy techniques applied to observe microtubule dynamics.
  • Analysis of studies conducted both within living cells and in reconstituted systems.

Main Results:

  • Dynamic instability is a fundamental property of microtubules, crucial for cellular functions.
  • Multiple microscopy approaches allow for in-depth investigation of this process.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding microtubule dynamic instability is vital for comprehending cell division and development.
  • Further research is needed to address open questions regarding microtubule behavior and regulation.