Three dimensional modeling of axonal microtubules

Abstract

Axon is a filament in neuronal system and axonal microtubules are bundles in axons. In axons, microtubules are coated with microtubule-associated protein tau, a natively unfolded profuse filamentous protein in the central nervous system. These proteins are responsible for the cross-linked structure of the axonal microtubule bundles. Through complimentary dimerization with other tau proteins, bridges are formed to nearby microtubules to create bundles. The transverse reinforcement of microtubules by cross-linking to the cytoskeleton has been shown to enhance their ability to bear compressive loads. Though microtubules are conventionally regarded as bearing compressive loads, in certain circumstances such as in traumatic stretch injury, they are placed in tension. We employ Standard Linear Solid, a viscoelastic model, to computationally simulate microtubules. This study investigates the dynamic response of two dimensional axonal microtubules under suddenly applied end forces. We obtain the results for steady state behavior of axonal microtubule for different forces.