Why does catastrophe (the rate at which growing microtubules switch to a Contracting State) cause a decrease in the number and length of microtubules?
Why does catastrophe (the rate at which growing microtubules switch to a Contracting State) cause a decrease in the number and length of microtubules?
Microtubules are made up of protein tubulins that can undergo quick growth or dissolution by assemble and disassembly of the monomeric units. They are present in eukaryotes, slime molds, and amoebae. They are infinite in their length and the diameter is about 25 nm with a 15 nm thick core and 5 nm thick walls. The walls are formed of 13 profilaments which are arranged helically. These strands are formed by alternate spirals of α tubulin and β tubulin.
The nucleation of microtubules initiated the formation of microtubules by polymerization. The polymerization of α tubulin and β tubulin results in the formation of these filaments as they act as building blocks of this process. the polymerization of these tubulins is an energy-driven process. to supply the energy required for the nucleation of microtubules a third type of tubulin, γ-tubulin is required. γ-tubulin helps in the formation of the γ-tubulin ring complex that acts as a template for α and β tubulin dimmers during nucleation. The γ-tubulin ring complex acts as a cap at the (-) end. The cap is responsible for providing the microtubule a stable configuration thus inhibiting the growth of (-) end of the microtubule. It protects the (-) end of the microtubule from the enzymes that could lead to the depolymerization of the microtubules.
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