Nonlinear Dynamics of Microtubules: Biophysical Implications |
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Authors: | M V Sataric J A Tuszynski |
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Institution: | (1) Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia, 21 000, Serbia and Montenegro;(2) Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2J1 |
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Abstract: | A recently developed model of nonlinear dynamics for microtubules is further expanded based on the biophysical arguments involving
the secondary structure of the constitutive protein tubulin and on the ferroelectric properties of microtubules. It is demonstrated
that kink excitations arise due to GTP hydrolysis that causes a dynamical transition in the structure of tubulin. The presence
of an intrinsic electric field associated with the structure of a microtubule leads to unidirectional propagation of the kink
excitation along the microtubule axis. This mechanism offers an explanation of the dynamic instability phenomenon in terms
of the electric field effects. Moreover, a possible elucidation of the unidirectional transport of cargo via motor proteins such as kinesin and dynein is proposed within the model developed in this paper. |
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Keywords: | microtubule tubulin ferroelectricity kink propagation GTP hydrolysis dynamic instability |
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