title: Microtubule gliding and cross-linked microtubule networks on micropillar interfaces.
abstract: We combined biochemical and topographical patterning to achieve motor-driven microtubule gliding on top of microfabricated pillar arrays with limited and controllable surface interactions of gliding microtubules. Kinesins immobilized on pillar heads pushed microtubules from the top of one micropillar to the next bridging up to 20 mum deep gaps filled with buffer solution. Distances of more than 10 mum were by-passed, and microtubule buckling was occasionally observed. The velocity distributions of microtubules gliding on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) pillars, on flat PDMS, and on glass were found to be different, most likely due to topological and/or chemical differences between the substrates. We also used pillar arrays to suspend cross-linked microtubule networks, whose structural characteristics were governed by the topographical characteristics of the pillar pattern. These experiments open new possibilities to study the dynamics and the self-organization of motor/microtubule networks in defined topologically structured environments.
authors.affiliation: Department New Materials & Biosystems, Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gräter
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Surrey
authors.forename: Joachim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spatz
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D009038:Motion; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D011485:Protein Binding; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D016547:Kinesins