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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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Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
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Assembling Microtubule-Based Active Matter.

Alexandra M Tayar1, Linnea M Lemma2, Zvonimir Dogic3

  • 1Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 27, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed active nematic liquid crystals using microtubule-kinesin systems. This work details protocols for creating and analyzing these dynamic, out-of-equilibrium materials for future applications.

Keywords:
Active matterAutonomous flowsKinesin motorsLiquid crystalsMicrotubulesSelf-organizationTopological defects

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Area of Science:

  • Soft matter physics
  • Biophysics
  • Materials science

Background:

  • Equilibrium liquid crystals have been studied for over a century, leading to applications like display technology.
  • Active nematics represent a novel class of liquid crystals driven out of equilibrium by the motion of their components.
  • Microtubule-kinesin systems offer a versatile experimental model for active nematic liquid crystals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe protocols for assembling microtubule-kinesin based active nematic liquid crystals.
  • To detail protein purification and the assembly of a two-dimensional active nematic system.
  • To demonstrate methods for quantifying the non-equilibrium dynamics of active nematics.

Main Methods:

  • Protein purification (microtubules and kinesin).
  • Assembly of a two-dimensional active nematic liquid crystal at a water-oil interface.
  • Microscopy and image analysis for quantifying nematic formation and dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Successful assembly of active nematic liquid crystals using purified proteins.
  • Demonstration of nematic phase formation in a controlled experimental setup.
  • Quantification methods for characterizing the non-equilibrium dynamics of the active nematic system.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides reproducible protocols for creating and studying active nematic liquid crystals.
  • This work facilitates further research into the fundamental properties and potential applications of active matter.
  • The developed methods enable quantitative analysis of dynamic processes in out-of-equilibrium soft materials.