title: Self-organization of treadmilling microtubules into a polar array.
abstract: The centrosome is normally thought to determine the cell center and to dictate the formation of a radial array of microtubules that defines the spatial organization of cytoplasm. However, experiments indicate the existence of a mechanism for organization of a centered microtubule array that is independent of the centrosome. Here, we formulate a model of treadmilling dynamics of non-centrosomal microtubules that predicts a spontaneously established, polarized distribution of microtubule orientation. Based on this model, we propose that the autonomous ability of non-centrosomal microtubules to form a polarized array arises from their treadmilling within the space constrained by the cell boundary.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Maly
authors.forename: Gary G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Borisy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018385:Centrosome / Q000502:physiology*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*