Dresden 2020 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 36: Cytoskeletal Filaments I
BP 36.1: Talk
Thursday, March 19, 2020, 15:00–15:15, SCH A251
Lattice defects induce microtubule self-renewal — Laura Schaedel1, Sarah Triclin1, Denis Chrétien2, Ariane Abrieu3, Charlotte Aumeier1, Jérémie Gaillard1, Laurent Blanchoin1,4, Manuel Théry1,4, and •Karin John5 — 1Univ. Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Biosciences & Biotechnology Institute of Grenoble, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, CytoMorpho Lab, 38054 Grenoble, France — 2Univ. Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes) - UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France — 3CRBM, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France — 4Univ. Paris Diderot, INSERM, CEA, Hôpital Saint Louis, Institut Universitaire d'Hematologie, UMRS1160, CytoMorpho Lab, 75010 Paris, France — 5Univ. Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, 38000 Grenoble, France
Microtubules are dynamic polymers, which grow and shrink at their extremities. Within the microtubule shaft, tubulin dimers adopt a highly ordered lattice structure, which is generally not considered to be dynamic. Here we report a new aspect of microtubule dynamics, whereby thermal forces are sufficient to remodel the lattice, despite its apparent stability. Our combined experimental data and numerical simulations on lattice dynamics and structure demonstrate that dimers can spontaneously leave and be incorporated into the lattice at structural defects. We propose a model mechanism, where the lattice dynamics is initiated via a passive breathing mechanism at dislocations, which are frequent in rapidly growing microtubules.