Doubly-Stabilized Microtubule Mechanics

Abstract

Microtubules, the largest and the most rigid of the cytoskeletal filaments, are responsible for intracellular organization and cellular morphology. The mechanical and dynamical properties of microtubules are regulated by the tubulin dimer nucleotide state, small molecule pharmaceuticals, and microtubule-associated proteins. These regulators can stabilize or destabilize microtubules. Here we present the effects of several microtubule-stabilizing regulators including: the chemotherapeutic Taxol, nucleotides GMPCPP and GTP-γ-S, and associated proteins tau and MAP4 on the mechanics of microtubules. Further, we explore the compound effects of multiple regulators This is especially interesting since Taxol makes microtubules more flexible, while the others are thought to make microtubules more rigid. We find that combinations of these stabilizers have novel effects on the mechanical properties of microtubules.