title: Real-time monitoring of changes in microtubule mechanical properties in response to microtubule-destabilizing drug treatment.
abstract: Microtubules are cylindrical protein polymers that play important roles in a number of cellular functions. The properties of microtubules are dynamically changed by interacting with many microtubule-related proteins and drugs. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy to evaluate the changes in microtubule mechanical properties induced by treatment with nocodazole, which is a microtubule-destabilizing drug. The average spring constant of the microtubules, which was used as a measure of microtubule lateral stiffness, was drastically decreased by treatment with nocodazole within 30 min from 0.052 +/- 0.014 N/m to 0.029 +/- 0.015 N/m. Our findings will aid in the understanding of microtubule dynamics, protein interactions in response to drug treatment, microtubule-related diseases, and drug development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Sung-Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Patriche
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simona
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adachi
mesh_terms: D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects*; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015739:Nocodazole