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

Published on: March 15, 2014

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Self-repair protects microtubules from destruction by molecular motors

Sarah Triclin1, Daisuke Inoue1,2, Jérémie Gaillard1

  • 1Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, CytoMorpho Lab, University of Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Grenoble, France.

Nature Materials
|January 22, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Molecular motors can disassemble microtubules by breaking tubulin dimer bonds. However, microtubules possess a self-repair mechanism, inserting new dimers to survive motor-induced damage.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Microtubule instability is inherent due to weak tubulin dimer interactions.
  • Molecular motors generate mechanical force via ATP hydrolysis to move along microtubules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if mechanical work from molecular motors can trigger microtubule disassembly.
  • To explore the interplay between molecular motors and microtubule dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies of microtubule-motor interactions.
  • Observing tubulin dimer removal and insertion dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Molecular motors actively remove tubulin dimers, leading to rapid microtubule destruction.
  • Microtubules exhibit a self-repair mechanism, inserting free tubulin dimers to counteract motor-induced damage.
  • A dynamic coupling exists between motor activity and microtubule lattice renewal.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanical work by molecular motors can destabilize microtubules.
  • Microtubules possess a compensatory self-repair system that maintains lattice integrity.
  • Motor-driven microtubule dynamics involve a continuous interplay between disassembly and repair.

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