Tuszynski J A, Sataric M V, Portet S, Dixon J M
Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J1 Canada.
J Biol Phys. 2005 Dec;31(3-4):477-86. doi: 10.1007/s10867-005-7284-5.
Recent space-flight experiments performed by Tabony's team provided further evidence that a microgravity environment strongly affects the spatio-temporal organization of microtubule assemblies. Characteristic time and length scales were found that govern the organization of oriented bundles under Earth's gravitational field (GF). No such organization has been observed in a microgravity environment. This paper discusses physical mechanisms resulting in pattern formation under gravity and its disappearance in microgravity. The subtle interplay between chemical kinetics, diffusion, gravitational drift, thermal fluctuations, electrostatic interactions and liquid crystalline characteristics provides a plausible scenario.
塔博尼团队最近进行的太空飞行实验进一步证明，微重力环境会强烈影响微管组件的时空组织。研究发现了在地球引力场（GF）下控制定向束组织的特征时间和长度尺度。在微重力环境中未观察到这种组织。本文讨论了在重力作用下导致图案形成及其在微重力中消失的物理机制。化学动力学、扩散、引力漂移、热涨落、静电相互作用和液晶特性之间的微妙相互作用提供了一个合理的情景。
