Abstract
Parameters characterizing elastic properties of microtubules, measured in several recent experiments, reflect an anisotropic character. We describe the microscopic dynamical properties of microtubules using a discrete model based on an appropriate lattice of dimers. Adopting a harmonic approximation for the dimer–dimer interactions and estimating the lattice elastic constants, we make predictions regarding vibration dispersion relations and vibration propagation velocities. Vibration frequencies and velocities are expressed as functions of the elastic constants and of the geometrical characteristics of the microtubules. We show that vibrations which propagate along the protofilament do so significantly faster than those along the helix.
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Acknowledgements
S.P. and C.H. were supported by Genome Canada through the Ontario, Genomics Institute and the Ontario R&D Challenge Fund. J.T. was supported by grants from NSERC and MITACS. J.M.D. would like to thank the staff and members of the Physics Department of the University of Alberta for all their kindness and thoughtfulness during his stay.
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Portet, S., Tuszyński, J.A., Hogue, C.W.V. et al. Elastic vibrations in seamless microtubules. Eur Biophys J 34, 912–920 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-005-0461-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-005-0461-4