Spontaneous Alignment of Microtubules Via Tubulin Polymerization in a Narrow Space Under a Temperature Gradient

Kazuhiro Shikinaka

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1983-4_11

Spontaneous Alignment of Microtubules Via Tubulin Polymerization in a Narrow Space Under a Temperature Gradient

Methods Mol Biol. 2022:2430:185-192. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1983-4_11.

Author

Kazuhiro Shikinaka¹

Affiliation

¹ Research Institute for Chemical Process Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. kaz.shikinaka@aist.go.jp.

PMID: 35476332
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1983-4_11

Abstract

In this chapter, protocols for spontaneous alignment of microtubules (MTs), such as helices and spherulites, via tubulin polymerization in a narrow space and under a temperature gradient are presented for tubulin solutions and tubulin-polymer mixtures. These protocols provide an easy route for hierarchical MT assembly and may extend our current understanding of cytoskeletal protein self-assembly under dissipative conditions.

Keywords: Helices; Hierarchical ordering; Self-standing film; Spherulite; Tubulin–polymer hybrid.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Microtubules* / metabolism
Polymerization
Polymers / metabolism
Temperature
Tubulin* / metabolism

Substances

Polymers
Tubulin