Active nematic order and dynamic lane formation of microtubules driven by membrane-bound diffusing motors.

ABSTRACT: Dynamic lane formation and long-range active nematic alignment are reported using a geometry in which kinesin motors are directly coupled to a lipid bilayer, allowing for in-plane motor diffusion during microtubule gliding. We use fluorescence microscopy to image protein distributions in and below the dense two-dimensional microtubule layer, revealing evidence of diffusion-enabled kinesin restructuring within the fluid membrane substrate as microtubules collectively glide above. We find that the lipid membrane acts to promote filament-filament alignment within the gliding layer, enhancing the formation of a globally aligned active nematic state. We also report the emergence of an intermediate, locally ordered state in which apolar dynamic lanes of nematically aligned microtubules migrate a

SUBMITTER: Memarian FL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8719883 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature