Microtubule stability and mechanical rigidity at high temperatures

Microtubules (MT) are polymers of α and β tubulin and constitute a significant part of eukaryotic cell’s cytoskeleton. They are tubules, ~25nm in diameter and can extend up to several tens of microns in length. They can be crudely modeled mechanically as rigid rods but many finer details linked to their structural anisotropy remain controversial. Understanding these finer mechanical properties is important biologically as well as for bio-nano engineering applications.

The effect of temperature variation on mechanical properties of MT is yet to be fully understood. We will discuss the flexural rigidity of taxol-stabilized MTs as a function of temperature and the implications of our results for how MT structure impacts their temperature stability. We’ve also tested the limits of MT stability at high temperatures and different factors that contribute to it.