title: Generation of stable overlaps between antiparallel filaments.
abstract: During cell division, sister chromatids are segregated by the mitotic spindle, a bipolar assembly of interdigitating antiparallel polar filaments called microtubules. Establishing a stable overlap region is essential for maintenance of bipolarity, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a particle-based stochastic model, we find that the interplay of motors and passive cross-linkers can robustly generate partial overlaps between antiparallel filaments. In this situation, motors reduce the overlap in a length-dependent manner, whereas passive cross-linkers increase it independently of the length. In addition to maintaining structural integrity, passive cross-linkers can thus also have a dynamic role for overlap size regulation.
authors.affiliation: Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, Postfach 151150, 66041 Saarbrücken, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johann
authors.affiliation: Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, Postfach 151150, 66041 Saarbrücken, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.affiliation: Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, Postfach 151150, 66041 Saarbrücken, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kruse
mesh_terms: D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013269:Stochastic Processes