Pattern formation of microtubules and motors: inelastic interaction of polar rods

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2005 May;71(5 Pt 1):050901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.71.050901. Epub 2005 May 10.

Abstract

We derive a model describing spatiotemporal organization of an array of microtubules interacting via molecular motors. Starting from a stochastic model of inelastic polar rods with a generic anisotropic interaction kernel we obtain a set of equations for the local rods concentration and orientation. At large enough mean density of rods and concentration of motors, the model describes orientational instability. We demonstrate that the orientational instability leads to the formation of vortices and (for large density and/or kernel anisotropy) asters seen in recent experiments.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Elasticity
  • Microtubules / chemistry*
  • Microtubules / physiology*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / physiology*
  • Motion
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
  • Multiprotein Complexes / physiology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Static Electricity
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes