title: Anisotropic elastic properties of microtubules.
abstract: We review and model the experimental parameters which characterize elastic properties of microtubules. Three macroscopic estimates are made of the anisotropic elastic moduli, accounting for the molecular forces between tubulin dimers: for a longitudinal compression of a microtubule, for a lateral force and for a shearing force. These estimates reflect the anisotropies in these parameters observed in several recent experiments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Alberta, T6G 2J1, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, jtus@phys.ualberta.ca
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tuszyński
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luchko
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Portet
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011485:Protein Binding; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D014404:Tubulin