Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Theresienstrasse 37, 80333 München, Germany.
Phys Rev Lett. 2012 Jun 22;108(25):258104. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.258104.
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.
微管（MTs）的长度调节对于许多细胞过程至关重要。像 kinesin-8 这样沿着 MTs 运动并充当解聚酶的分子马达，是 MT 动力学中的关键参与者。然而，长度控制的调节机制仍然难以捉摸。在这里，我们研究了一个随机模型，该模型考虑了聚合动力学和马达诱导解聚之间的相互作用。我们确定了 MT 长度和方差对速率常数和马达浓度的依赖性。此外，我们的分析揭示了集体现象如何导致明确的 MT 长度。
