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Related Concept Videos

Microtubules01:35

Microtubules

97.4K
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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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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Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

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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.
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Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

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Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
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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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Role of Microtubules in Cell Wall Deposition01:02

Role of Microtubules in Cell Wall Deposition

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Microtubules are small hollow tubes in eukaryotic cells. The cell wall microtubules are polymerized dimers of two globular proteins, α-tubulin and β-tubulin, two globular proteins. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the widest components of the cytoskeleton. They help the cell resist compression and provide a track along which vesicles move through the cell or pull replicated chromosomes to opposite ends of a dividing cell. Microtubules go through quick cycles of...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
08:49

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

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Microtubules keep large cells in shape.

Joyce C M Meiring1, Anna Akhmanova1

  • 1Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|May 12, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell migration requires coordinated protrusion extension and retraction. Microtubules maintain cell coherence during amoeboid movement by regulating actomyosin contractility in retracting cell parts.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cell migration is crucial for development and disease.
  • Maintaining cell integrity during migration is essential.
  • Amoeboid migration involves dynamic cell shape changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microtubules in maintaining cell coherence during migration.
  • To understand how cell protrusions are coordinated during amoeboid movement.

Main Methods:

  • Live-cell imaging of migrating cells.
  • Perturbation of microtubule dynamics.
  • Analysis of actomyosin contractility.

Main Results:

  • Microtubules are essential for coordinating protrusion extension and retraction.
  • Microtubules regulate actomyosin contractility in retracting protrusions.
  • Disruption of microtubules leads to cell fragmentation during migration.

Conclusions:

  • Microtubules play a critical role in maintaining cell coherence during amoeboid migration.
  • Control of actomyosin contractility by microtubules is key to preventing cell fragmentation.