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Microtubule Length Regulation by Molecular Motors

Anna Melbinger, Louis Reese, and Erwin Frey
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 258104 – Published 22 June 2012
Physics logo See Focus story: How Cells Regulate the Length of Filaments
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Abstract

Length regulation of microtubules (MTs) is essential for many cellular processes. Molecular motors like kinesin-8, which move along MTs and also act as depolymerases, are known as key players in MT dynamics. However, the regulatory mechanisms of length control remain elusive. Here, we investigate a stochastic model accounting for the interplay between polymerization kinetics and motor-induced depolymerization. We determine the dependence of MT length and variance on rate constants and motor concentration. Moreover, our analyses reveal how collective phenomena lead to a well-defined MT length.

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  • Received 5 March 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.258104

© 2012 American Physical Society

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How Cells Regulate the Length of Filaments

Published 22 June 2012

Models show how the length of filaments in cells can be tightly controlled by balancing continual growth with shrinkage caused by molecular motors.

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Authors & Affiliations

Anna Melbinger*, Louis Reese, and Erwin Frey

  • Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics (ASC) and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Theresienstrasse 37, 80333 München, Germany

  • *Present address: Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
  • frey@lmu.de

See Also

Length Regulation of Active Biopolymers by Molecular Motors

Denis Johann, Christoph Erlenkämper, and Karsten Kruse
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 258103 (2012)

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Vol. 108, Iss. 25 — 22 June 2012

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