Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 7: Posters: Biological Machines, Motor Proteins

BP 7.10: Poster

Monday, March 22, 2010, 17:15–20:00, Poster B1

Dynamic length regulation of microtubules — •Louis Reese, Anna Melbinger, and Erwin Frey — Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics (ASC) and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Microtubules are highly dynamic filaments that perform a variety of tasks in living cells. They serve as intracellular highways for molecular motors, which are transported along those tracks or diffuse in the cytosol. Here we examine mechanisms to regulate microtubule-length through the concentration of motors in the cell [1]. It is analyzed how the interplay between density-dependent transport on the tracks, and filament polymerization affects the dynamics of filament length. Employing stochastic simulations complemented by analytic calculus we identify distinct dynamic regimes. The model presented is conform with recent experiments studying in vitro microtubule depolymerization [2]. Our findings show that molecular motors can specifically control MT length fluctuations.

[1] A. Parmeggiani, T. Franosch, E. Frey, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 086601 (2003).

[2] V. Varga, J. Helenius, K. Tanaka, A.A. Hyman, T.U. Tanaka and J. Howard, Nat. Cell Biol. 8, 957 (2006)