Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Microtubules

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.

Microtubules

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....

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...

Feedback Inhibition

Feedback Inhibition

Biochemical reactions are occurring constantly in cells, converting starting substances to different products, usually with the help of enzymes that speed the reactions. Without enzymes, it would take far too long for most reactions to occur to be useful to the cell!

Microtubule Instability

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...

Microtubule Formation

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

National Evaluation of the Arms Race Control Score in US Neurosurgery Residents.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons·2026

Same author

The Prone-Transpsoas Approach for Single-Position Lateral Corpectomy: A Case Series.

Brain sciences·2026

Same author

Evaluating the Use of Large Language Models in Improving the Readability of Online Patient Education Materials for Peripheral Nerve Surgery.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Glioma-intrinsic MAPK/ERK signaling promotes immunotherapy efficacy through T cell infiltration and interferon responses.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Higher social vulnerability is associated with lower rates of peripheral nerve decompression surgery.

Clinical neurology and neurosurgery·2026

Same author

The Aging World of Spinal Deformity Surgery: Epidemiological Trends Over A 12-Year Period.

Spine·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Published on: March 15, 2014

Inhibition of Microtubule Depolymerization by Osmolytes.

George D Bachand¹, Rishi Jain¹, Randy Ko¹

¹Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies , Sandia National Laboratories , P.O. Box 5800, MS 1303, Albuquerque , New Mexico 87185 , United States.

Biomacromolecules

|April 25, 2018

Summary

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) significantly inhibit microtubule depolymerization for up to 30 days. These osmolytes stabilize microtubules against temperature and calcium, suggesting environmental factors influence cellular dynamics.

More Related Videos

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 3, 2023

Use of Immunolabeling to Analyze Stable, Dynamic, and Nascent Microtubules in the Zebrafish Embryo

Use of Immunolabeling to Analyze Stable, Dynamic, and Nascent Microtubules in the Zebrafish Embryo

Published on: September 20, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Published on: March 15, 2014

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 3, 2023

Use of Immunolabeling to Analyze Stable, Dynamic, and Nascent Microtubules in the Zebrafish Embryo

Use of Immunolabeling to Analyze Stable, Dynamic, and Nascent Microtubules in the Zebrafish Embryo

Published on: September 20, 2017

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Biophysics

Background:

Microtubule dynamics are crucial for eukaryotic cell function.
Dysregulated microtubule dynamics are implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Microtubule stability is influenced by associated proteins and therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of osmolytes polyethylene glycol (PEG) and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) on microtubule depolymerization.
To determine the duration and conditions under which PEG and TMAO stabilize microtubules.
To explore the mechanisms underlying osmolyte-mediated microtubule stabilization.

Main Methods:

Observation of individual microtubule filament depolymerization.
Treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO).
Assessment of stabilization against temperature and calcium-induced depolymerization.

Main Results:

PEG and TMAO inhibited microtubule depolymerization for up to 30 days.
PEG demonstrated stabilization of microtubules against thermal and calcium stress.
The stabilizing effects are potentially linked to kosmotropic and excluded volume/osmotic pressure phenomena.

Conclusions:

Osmolytes PEG and TMAO can significantly stabilize microtubules.
Physicochemical properties of the cellular microenvironment can regulate microtubule depolymerization.
These findings suggest a potential role for environmental factors in in vivo microtubule dynamics.