Microtubule: a dynamically unstable stochastic phase switching polymer

P.N. Zakharov^a, V.K. Arzhanik^b, E.V. Ulyanov^c, N.B. Gudimchuk^c, d, a, F.I. Ataullakhanov^c, d, a
^aCenter for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology RAS, ul. Kosygina 4, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
^bLomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Leninskie Gory 1, building 73, Moscow, 119234, Russian Federation
^cLomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Physics, Leninskie Gory 1 build. 2, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
^dFederal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, ul. Samory Mashela 1, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation

One of the simplest molecular motors, a biological microtubule, is reviewed as an example of a highly nonequilibrium molecular machine capable of stochastic transitions between slow growth and rapid disassembly phases. Basic properties of the microtubule are described, and various approaches to simulating its dynamics, from statistical chemical kinetics models to molecular dynamics models using the Metropolis Monte Carlo and Brownian dynamics methods, are outlined.

Keywords: microtubule, GTP-cap, mathematical modeling, dynamic instability
PACS: 87.10.−e, 87.16.−b, 87.16.A− (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2016.04.037779
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2016/8/b/
Web of Science

000388449500002
Scopus

2-s2.0-84995595663
ADS NASA

2016PhyU...59..773Z
Citation: Zakharov P N, Arzhanik V K, Ulyanov E V, Gudimchuk N B, Ataullakhanov F I "Microtubule: a dynamically unstable stochastic phase switching polymer" Phys. Usp. 59 773–786 (2016)

BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks

Received: 14th, March 2016, revised: 4th, April 2016, accepted: 12th, April 2016

Оригинал: Захаров П Н, Аржаник В К, Ульянов Е В, Гудимчук Н Б, Атауллаханов Ф И «Микротрубочка — динамически нестабильный биополимер со спонтанными переключениями между фазовыми состояниями» УФН 186 853–868 (2016); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2016.04.037779