Open AccessPhotosensitive breaking of fluorescent labeled microtubules and its mechanism
Author(s) -
Chong Xu,
Chunxiang Liu,
Honglian Guo,
Zhaolin Li,
Jiang Yu-Qiang,
Daozhong Zhang,
Ming Yuan
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.55.206
Subject(s) - microtubule , biophysics , optical tweezers , breakup , fluorescence , mechanism (biology) , chemistry , materials science , physics , optics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , quantum mechanics , mechanics
It is reported that fluorescent microtubules may break under irradiation. However, the process and mechanism are not well understood. In this paper, we study the process of light-induced microtubule breaking by optical tweezers and find the breakup of protofilaments in microtubule is not simultaneous but proceeds step-by-step. After a series of biological experiments, we confirm that free radicals are the main reason for the photosensitive breaking of microtubule. According to the results of optical tweezers experiments, the mechanism of free radicals acting on microtubule is infered.