Building cytoskeletal circuits via branched microtubule networks: Numerical modeling

Inside the axon, cytoskeletal elements, particularly microtubules (MTs), exhibit intricate hierarchical self-organization, enabling a wide range of cellular functions, including controlled neuronal migration, axon extension, and efficient long-distance molecular transport. Inspired by the axonal MT architecture, we have developed cytoskeletal circuits that combine MT nucleation pathways with microfabrication techniques. This integration allows for the adaptive self-organization of uniformly polarized MT arrays within microfluidic structures. In this presentation we will focus on our numerical model derived from the fundamental characteristics underlying the self-organization of branched MT networks in basic geometric features such as turns and divisions. Through stochastic simulations, our model successfully predicts the self-organization of branched MT networks in more complex elements like biased divisions and MT diodes. This numerical model serves as a navigator for designing cytoskeletal circuits and holds promise for the development of novel on-chip nanotechnologies.