Role of the inter-protofilament sliding in the bending of protein microtubules.
This paper aims to identify the role of the inter-protofilament (PF) sliding in the bending of microtubules (MTs). A molecular structural model (MSM) was employed to study the dependence of bending on the inter-PF bonds. It was found that the inter-PF bonds serve as an angle spring that controls the inter-PF sliding during the bending. When the angle spring is soft inter-PF sliding occurs leading to the length-dependent bending stiffness of MTs. Such a size dependent bending stiffness may also affect the vibration and buckling behavior of MTs where bending deformation is predominant.
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China. Electronic address: cywang@ujs.edu.cn.
Chengyuan
C
Wang
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China.
Zhigang
Z
Guo
College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK.
Ruijie
R
Wang
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China.
Ying
Y
Luo
D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D014732:Vibration
Bending; Inter-protofilament sliding; Microtubules; Molecular structure mechanics