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Microtubules’ Dynamic Apolar Lane Formation and Long-Range Order on a Supported Lipid Bilayer

ORAL

Abstract

Microtubules (MTs) are a vital component of the eukaryotic cells’ cytoskeleton, forming a network utilized in cell transport. Kinesin motor proteins “walk” on MTs by converting chemical energy into mechanical energy to transport cargo. In this project, we studied MT-based active matter on a supported lipid bilayer. In a microtubule gliding assay configuration, kinesin motor proteins are immobilized by anchoring to a glass substrate. Here, MT behavior in the gliding assay method is compared with an assay in which motors are diffusing on a lipid bilayer. We find that the lipid membrane acts to promote filament-filament alignment within the gliding layer in high MT concentration. As a result, we observed dynamic apolar lane formation and long-range active nematic alignment. The enhanced collective motion of MTs with orientational order on different length scales is sensitive to MT concentration. These experiments are supported with continuum model simulations, together revealing that motors restructure on a lipid bilayer.

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Publication: Memarian, F. L., Lopes, J. D., Schwarzendahl, F. J., Athani, M. G., Gopinathan, A., Beller, D. A., Dasbiswas, K., Hirst, L. S., Active nematic order and dynamic lane formation of microtubules driven by membrane-bound diffusing motors. 2021, PNAS, In Press

Presenters

  • Fereshteh L Memarian

    University of California, Merced

Authors

  • Fereshteh L Memarian

    University of California, Merced

  • Niranjan Sarpangala

    University of California, Merced

  • Fabian Jan Schwarzendahl

    Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf

  • Joseph D Lopes

    Brandeis University

  • Madhuvanthi Athani

    University of California, Merced, Department of Physics, University of California, Merced and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

  • Daniel A Beller

    University of California, Merced, Department of Physics, University of California, Merced; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Merced, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Physics, University of California, Merced and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

  • Kinjal Dasbiswas

    University of California, Merced, Merced

  • Ajay Gopinathan

    University of California, Merced, University of California Merced

  • Linda S Hirst

    University of California, Merced, University of California Merced