open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/78736

Radial alignment of microtubules through tubulin polymerization in an evaporating droplet

英語

2020-04-10

PLOS

PLoS ONE

15(4)

e0231352

We report the formation of spherulites from droplets of highly concentrated tubulin solution via nucleation and subsequent polymerization to microtubules (MTs) under water evaporation by heating. Radial alignment of MTs in the spherulites was confirmed by the optical properties of the spherulites observed using polarized optical microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Temperature and concentration of tubulins were found as important parameters to control the spherulite pattern formation of MTs where evaporation plays a significant role. The alignment of MTs was regulated reversibly by temperature induced polymerization and depolymerization of tubulins. The formation of the MTs patterns was also confirmed at the molecular level from the small angle X-ray measurements. This work provides a simple method for obtaining radially aligned arrays of MTs.

学術雑誌論文

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

1932-6203