Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
Published on: June 23, 2022
Active matter under cyclic stretch: Modeling microtubule alignment and bundling
Takumi Tagaki1, Seiya Nishikawa1, Shuji Ishihara1,2
1The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
Abstract:
We investigate the behavior of self-propelled particles under cyclic stretching, inspired by the characteristic pattern dynamics observed in microtubule (MT) motility assays subjected to uniaxial cyclic substrate stretching. We develop a self-propelled particle model that incorporates the elastic energy acting on the filaments due to substrate deformation, successfully reproducing the experimentally observed MT patterns. Additionally, the general framework of the model enables systematic exploration of collective responses to various substrate deformations, offering potential applications in the manipulation of MT patterns and other active matter systems.
Related Concept Videos
Microtubule Instability
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Microtubule Formation
Studying the Cytoskeleton
Actin Treadmilling
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

