title: Scaling of microtubule force-velocity curves obtained at different tubulin concentrations.
abstract: We present a single curve that describes the decay in average growth velocity for microtubules in response to a mechanical force. Curves obtained at two new and one previously studied tubulin concentrations coalesce when normalized with the growth velocity at zero load. This scaling provides direct evidence for a force-independent molecular off rate, in agreement with Brownian ratchet models. In addition, microtubule length changes were measured with a precision up to 10 nm, revealing that microtubules under load abruptly switch between different growth velocities.
authors.affiliation: FOM Institute AMOLF, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Janson
authors.forename: Marileen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dogterom
mesh_terms: D019281:Dimerization; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D014404:Tubulin