Open AccessRadial alignment of microtubules through tubulin polymerization in an evaporating droplet
Author(s) -
Jakia Jannat Keya,
Hideyuki Kudoh,
Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir,
Daisuke Inoue,
Nobuyoshi Miyamoto,
Tomomi Tani,
Akira Kakugo,
Kazuhiro Shikinaka
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0231352
Subject(s) - polymerization , tubulin , microtubule , nucleation , optical microscope , evaporation , materials science , spherulite (polymer physics) , microtubule nucleation , microscopy , depolymerization , fluorescence microscope , biophysics , chemical physics , fluorescence , polymer , chemistry , polymer chemistry , optics , composite material , scanning electron microscope , biology , centrosome , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , biochemistry , cell cycle , cell , microbiology and biotechnology
We report the formation of spherulites from droplets of highly concentrated tubulin solution via nucleation and subsequent polymerization to microtubules (MTs) under water evaporation by heating. Radial alignment of MTs in the spherulites was confirmed by the optical properties of the spherulites observed using polarized optical microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Temperature and concentration of tubulins were found as important parameters to control the spherulite pattern formation of MTs where evaporation plays a significant role. The alignment of MTs was regulated reversibly by temperature induced polymerization and depolymerization of tubulins. The formation of the MTs patterns was also confirmed at the molecular level from the small angle X-ray measurements. This work provides a simple method for obtaining radially aligned arrays of MTs.