Regensburg 2013 – wissenschaftliches Programm
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 12: Molecular Motors
BP 12.5: Vortrag
Dienstag, 12. März 2013, 10:45–11:00, H43
Theory of Microtubule Length Regulation by Molecular Motors — •Louis Reese1, Anna Melbinger2, and Erwin Frey1 — 1Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics (ASC) and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München — 2Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Important players in microtubule length regulation are depolymerizing motor proteins. The accumulation of kinesin-8 along a microtubule provides sensitive regulation of the microtubule’s length [1,2]. However, cellular mechanisms of length regulation are still obscure. This is due to the complicated dynamics of microtubule assembly and disassembly and the presence of a multitude of regulatory proteins. We develop a theoretical framework that allows to address this problem systematically [2]. Employing analytic methods and stochastic simulations, different regimes of motor traffic are identified. With these results at hand it is possible to infer for which parameter regimes depolymerizing motor molecules regulate microtubule length. The resulting microtubule dynamics is analyzed with respect to fluctuations and the microtubule length. We find that particular molecular interactions between kinesin-8 and the microtubule enhance fluctuations such that they are reminiscent of microtubule dynamic instability.
[1] L. Reese, A. Melbinger, E. Frey, Biophys. J. 101 (2011)
[2] A. Melbinger, L. Reese, E. Frey, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 (2012)