Thursday, 28 July 2011

Structure

Microtubules are polymers of α- and β-tubulin dimers. The tubulin dimers polymerize end to end in protofilaments. The protofilaments again array into alveolate annular filaments. Typically the protofilaments align themselves in an amiss braid with one about-face of the braid absolute 13 tubulin dimers anniversary from a altered protofilament. The angel aloft illustrates a baby area of microtubule, a few αβ dimers in length.

Another important affection of microtubule anatomy is polarity. Tubulin polymerizes end to end with the α subunit of one tubulin dimer contacting the β subunit of the next. Therefore, in a protofilament, one end will accept the α subunit apparent while the added end will accept the β subunit exposed. These ends are appointed the (−) and (+) ends, respectively. The protofilaments array alongside to one another, so in a microtubule, there is one end, the (+) end, with alone β subunits apparent while the added end, the (−) end, alone has α subunits exposed. The (-) end is capped so addendum of the microtubule occurs from the (+) direction.

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