Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD) model of microtubule stability and collapse. (IMAGE)

Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University

Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD) model of microtubule stability and collapse.

Caption

Schematic illustration of the Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD) model proposed from high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) observations. Tiny defects in the microtubule wall can follow two different pathways. Some undergo structural repair and regrowth, allowing the microtubule to remain intact. Others develop into larger disruptions that spread through the structure and eventually cause it to collapse. The findings reveal how local structural defects can influence whether a microtubule survives or breaks apart.
 

Credit

Xin Zhang. Illustration prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI)

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