Cited by 88Microtubule and mitosis dynamicsCellular Mechanics and InteractionsElectrostatics and Colloid Interactions

Microtubule curvatures under perpendicular electric forces reveal a low persistence length

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Van den Heuvel, M. G. L., de Graaff, M. P., Dekker, C.·2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The mechanics of microtubules, cylindrical protein filaments that constitute the cytoskeleton, have been well characterized on long length scales. Here, we investigate the persistence length of short (approximately 0.1 microm) ends of microtubules by measuring the trajectories of kinesin-propelled microtubules under perpendicular electric forces. We relate the measured trajectory curvatures to the biased thermal fluctuations of the leading microtubule end, and upon including all electrohydrodynamic forces, we find that the persistence length of the microtubule ends is only 0.08 +/- 0.02 mm. This is significantly shorter than the well established value of approximately 4-8 mm that is measured for long microtubules. Our data are in good agreement with recent theoretical predictions that microtubules mechanically behave as a loose assembly of independent protofilaments on these short length scales.

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  1. Bathe M, Heussinger C, Claessens M, Bausch A, Frey E (2006) arxiv.org:q-bio/0607040. · arXiv

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Authors
Van den Heuvel, M. G. L., de Graaff, M. P., & Dekker, C.
Affiliations
  • Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Section Molecular Biophysics, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands
  • Delft University of Technology (NL)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2008-06-10
Volume
105
Issue
23
Pages
7941-7946
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2000946608
Cited by
88
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
FWCI
2.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Electrostatics and Colloid Interactions
Keywords
microtubules, persistence length, microtubule ends, kinesin, electric force, electrohydrodynamic force, thermal fluctuations, microtubule curvature, cytoskeleton mechanics, protofilaments, microtubule mechanics
MeSH terms
Animals, Biomechanical Phenomena, Cattle, Drosophila melanogaster, Electricity, Microtubules

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