Structure of Microtubules
The structure of microtubule is described below:
Size
Microtubules are rigid, hollow rods about 25 nm in diameter, and 200 nm-25 m long. These rods are composed of tubulin proteins.
Composition
The microtubule is composed of two similar globular protein subunits: α-tubulin and β-tubulin. α-tubulin form pairs or heterodimers and β-tubulin form pairs. Many of these pairs form a chain called protofilament. 13 protofilaments fold in a cylindrical shape to form a microtubule. These parts are placed on the microtubule, so that each one of them is facing the same way and creates 13 parallel protofilaments. This results in a polar microtubule which means α-tubulin at one end and β-tubulin on the opposite end.
Microtubules: Structure & Function
Microtubules are small polymerized tubular structures made up of tubulin proteins. Microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments are the important parts of the cytoskeleton. Microtubule is an important component of cell structure in plant and animal cells. It plays a major role in the functions of a variety of processes including cell division, cell movement, maintaining cell shape, etc.
These are rigid, hollow rods made up of α-tubulin and β-tubulin proteins that create protofilaments for polar microtubule formation. There are three types of microtubules involved in mitosis, namely astral, polar, and kinetochore. Kinesin and dynein are microtubule-associated proteins that make the internal transport network of cells.
Table of Content
- What are Microtubules?
- Structure of Microtubules
- Properties of Microtubules
- Functions of Microtubules
- Types and Functions of Microtubules Associated with Mitosis
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