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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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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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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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Anaphase A and B01:39

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Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore 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.
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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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Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
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Electrical Oscillations in Microtubules.

Md Mohsin1, Horacio Cantiello2, María Del Rocío Cantero2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|September 5, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents a multi-scale model of electrical impulses along microtubules, revealing their transistor-like properties. This advances understanding of cellular electrical activity and bioelectronic applications.

Keywords:
coupled nonlinear electrical transmission lineselectrical oscillationintracellular information processingleapfroggingmicrotubule

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cellular Electrophysiology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Environmental changes and cellular electric potential shifts can trigger ionic currents along cytoskeletal filaments.
  • Understanding these electrokinetic processes is crucial for elucidating cell electrical activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a multi-scale electrokinetic model for characterizing electrical impulses along microtubules.
  • To investigate the role of tubulin interactions, dissipation, and surface ionic layers in microtubule electrical behavior.

Main Methods:

  • A multi-scale electrokinetic model incorporating atomistic protein details and biological environments was developed.
  • The model treats microtubule surfaces as coupled asymmetric nonlinear electrical transmission lines.
  • Analysis included varying electrolyte conditions and voltage stimuli to observe effects on electrical impulses.

Main Results:

  • The model captured luminal currents, energy transfer, amplification, and oscillatory dynamics, mimicking microtubule transistor properties.
  • Electrical impulse characteristics such as shape, attenuation, oscillation, and propagation velocity were analyzed under different conditions.
  • The study demonstrated how electrolyte conditions and voltage stimuli influence electrical impulse propagation.

Conclusions:

  • The developed model provides molecular insights into electrical impulse transmission along microtubules.
  • The identified transistor-like properties of microtubules have significant implications for intracellular communication.
  • This research opens avenues for novel bioelectronic applications leveraging microtubule functionalities.