Investigation of the Electrical Properties of Microtubule Ensembles under Cell-Like Conditions.

ABSTRACT: Microtubules are hollow cylindrical polymers composed of the highly negatively-charged (~23e), high dipole moment (1750 D) protein α, β- tubulin. While the roles of microtubules in chromosomal segregation, macromolecular transport, and cell migration are relatively well-understood, studies on the electrical properties of microtubules have only recently gained strong interest. Here, we show that while microtubules at physiological concentrations increase solution capacitance, free tubulin has no appreciable effect. Further, we observed a decrease in electrical resistance of solution, with charge transport peaking between 20-60 Hz in the presence of microtubules, consistent with recent findings that microtubules exhibit electric oscillations at such low frequencies. We were able to quantify

SUBMITTER: Kalra AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7075204 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature