• Advances in nano research
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.443-457
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• 2019

In this investigation, dynamic and bending behaviors of isolated protein microtubules are analyzed. Microtubules (MTs) can be considered as bio-composite structures that are elements of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and posses considerable roles in cellular activities. They have higher mechanical characteristics such as superior flexibility and stiffness. In the modeling purpose of microtubules according to a hollow beam element, a novel single variable sinusoidal beam model is proposed with the conjunction of modified strain gradient theory. The advantage of this model is found in its new displacement field involving only one unknown as the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, which is even less than the Timoshenko beam theory. The equations of motion are constructed by considering Hamilton's principle. The obtained results are validated by comparing them with those given based on higher shear deformation beam theory containing a higher number of variables. A parametric investigation is established to examine the impacts of shear deformation, length scale coefficient, aspect ratio and shear modulus ratio on dynamic and bending behaviors of microtubules. It is remarked that when length scale coefficients are almost identical of the outer diameter of MTs, microstructure-dependent behavior becomes more important.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2020

Vibrational analysis in microtubules is examined based on the nonlocal theory of elasticity. The complete analytical formulas for wave velocity are obtained and the results reveal that the small scale effects can reduce the frequency, especially for large longitudinal wave-vector and large circumferential wave number. It is seen that the small scale effects are more significant for smaller wave length. The methods and results may also support the design and application of nano devices such as micro sound generator etc. The effects of small scale parameters can increase vibrational frequencies of the protein microtubules and cannot be overlooked in the analysis of vibrating phenomena. The results for different modes with nonlocal effect are checked.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.809-817
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• 2020

In cells, the microtubules are surrounded by viscoelastic medium. Microtubules, though very small in size, perform a vital role in transportation of protein and in maintaining the cell shape. During performing these functions waves propagate and this propagation of waves has been investigated using nonlocal elastic theory. But the effect of surrounding medium was not taken into account. To fill this gap, this study considers the viscoelastic medium along with nonlocal elastic theory. The analytical formulas of the velocity of waves, and the results reveal that the presence of medium reduces the velocity. The axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric waves are separately discussed. Furthermore, the results are compared with the results gained from the studies of free microtubules. The presence of medium around microtubules results in the increase of the flexural rigidity causing a significant decrease in radial wave velocity as compared to axial and circumferential wave velocities. The effect of viscoelastic medium is more obvious on radial wave velocity, to a lesser extent on torsional wave velocity and least on longitudinal wave velocity.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 2021

Vibration of protein microtubules is investigated based upon Orthotropic Elastic Shell Model, considering the effect of thermal stresses. The complete analytical formulas of thermal vibration for microtubules are obtained. It is observed that the effects of thermal stresses on the vibrational frequency mode are more significant when the longitudinal and circumferential wave vectors are large enough. But when the length of wave vector reduces to 5 nm, these effects have no significant effects. The present results well agree with the lattice vibrations of microtubules. Moreover, the results show that the effects of thermal stresses due to small change in temperature are not so significant but with the increase in temperature its effects are obvious.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.705-717
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• 2020

While the growth factors like insulin initiate a signaling cascade to induce conformational changes in the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), amino acids cause the complex to localize to the site of activation, the lysosome. The precise mechanism of how mTORC1 moves in and out of the lysosome is yet to be elucidated in detail. Here we report that microtubules and the motor protein KIF11 are required for the proper dissociation of mTORC1 from the lysosome upon amino acid scarcity. When microtubules are disrupted or KIF11 is knocked down, we observe that mTORC1 localizes to the lysosome even in the amino acid-starved situation where it should be dispersed in the cytosol, causing an elevated mTORC1 activity. Moreover, in the mechanistic perspective, we discover that mTORC1 interacts with KIF11 on the motor domain of KIF11, enabling the complex to move out of the lysosome along microtubules. Our results suggest not only a novel way of the regulation regarding amino acid availability for mTORC1, but also a new role of KIF11 and microtubules in mTOR signaling.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2021

Microtubules (MTs) are the main part of the cytoskeleton in living eukaryotic cells. In this article, a mechanical model of MT buckling, considering the modified strain gradient theory, is analytically examined. The MT is assumed as a cylindrical beam and a new single variable trigonometric beam theory is developed in conjunction with a modified strain gradient model. The main benefit of the present formulation is shown in its new kinematic where we found only one unknown as the Euler-Bernoulli beam model, which is even less than the Timoshenko beam model. The governing equations are deduced by considering virtual work principle. The effectiveness of the present method is checked by comparing the obtained results with those reported by other higher shear deformation beam theory involving a higher number of unknowns. It is shown that microstructure-dependent response is more important when material length scale parameters are closer to the outer diameter of MTs. Also, it can be confirmed that influences of shear deformation become more considerable for smaller shear modulus and aspect ratios.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.723-730
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• 2007

Kinesin is an ATP-driven microtubule motor protein that plays important roles in control of microtubule dynamics, intracellular transport, cell division and signal transduction. The kinesin superfamily is composed of numerous members that are classified into 14 subfamilies. Animal kinesins have been well characterized. In contrast, plant kinesins have not yet to be characterized adequately. Here, a novel plant-specific kinesin gene, GhKCH2, has been cloned from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers and biochemically identified by prokaryotic expression, affinity purification, ATPase activity assay and microtubule-binding analysis. The putative motor domain of GhKCH2, $M_{396-734}$ corresponding to amino acids Q396-N734 was fused with 6$\times$His-tag, soluble-expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified in a large amount. The biochemical analysis demonstrated that the basal ATPase activity of $M_{396-734}$ is not activated by $Ca^{2+}$, but stimulated 30-fold max by microtubules. The enzymatic activation is microtubule-concentration-dependent, and the concentration of microtubules that corresponds to half-maximum activation was about 11 ${\mu}M$, much higher than that of other kinesins reported. The cosedimentation assay indicated that $M_{396-734}$ could bind to microtubules in vitro whenever the nucleotide AMP-PNP is present or absent. As a plant-specific microtubule-dependent kinesin with a lower microtubule-affinity and a nucleotide-independent microtubule-binding ability, cotton GhKCH2 might be involved in the function of microtubules during the deposition of cellulose microfibrils in fibers or the formation of cell wall.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1045-1051
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• 2018

The developmentally regulated GTP binding protein 2 (DRG2) is involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that DRG2 regulates microtubule dynamics in HeLa cells. Analysis of live imaging of the plus-ends of microtubules with EB1-EGFP showed that DRG2 deficiency (shDRG2) significantly reduced the growth rate of HeLa cells. Depletion of DRG2 increased 'slow and long-lived' subpopulations, but decreased 'fast and short-lived' subpopulations of microtubules. Microtubule polymerization inhibitor exhibited a reduced response in shDRG2 cells. Using immunoprecipitation, we show that DRG2 interacts with tau, which regulates microtubule polymerization. Collectively, these data demonstrate that DRG2 may aid in affecting microtubule dynamics in HeLa cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.859-865
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• 2009

Microtubules, a major cytoskeleton, form parallel arrays in the axon and are oriented with their plus ends toward the cell periphery. Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) are the molecular motors acting in the microtubule-based motilities of organelles in cells. Here, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify the protein that interacts with the coiled-coil domain of KIF1A and found a specific interaction with microtubule-destabilizing factor SCG10. SCG10 bound to the amino acid residues between 400 and 820 of KIF1A, but not to other KIFs in the yeast two-hybrid assay. The coiled-coil domain of SCG10 is essential for interaction with KIF1A. In addition, this specific interaction was also observed in the Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay. An antibody to SCG10 specifically co-immunoprecipitated KIF1A associated with SCG10 from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that KIF1A motor protein transports SCG10-containing vesicles along microtubules in neurons.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1503-1507
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• 2013

The two major symptoms characterizing Alzheimer's disease are the formation of amyloid-${\beta}$ extracellular deposits in the form of senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that consist of pathological hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregated into insoluble paired helical filaments (PHFs). Neurons of the central nervous system have appreciable amounts of tau protein, a microtubule-associated protein. To maintain an optimal operation of nerves, the microtubules are stabilized, which is necessary to support cell structure and cellular processes. When the modified tau protein becomes dysfunctional, the cells containing misfolded tau cannot maintain cell structure. One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is hyperphosphorylated tau protein. This paper shows that the small heat shock protein from humans (Hsp27) reduces hyperphosphorylated tau and prevents hyperphosphorylated tau-induced cell death of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.