Understanding the role of transport velocity in biomotor-powered microtubule spool assembly

TL;DR

This study investigates how transport velocity affects microtubule spool assembly, revealing that spool size and number are unaffected by velocity changes, and that assembly mechanisms evolve during growth.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the velocity insensitivity of microtubule spool formation and the dynamic mechanisms involved in their assembly process.

Findings

Spool number and size are constant over a seven-fold velocity range.

Assembly mechanisms change during the growth process.

Transport velocity has limited impact on steady-state spool characteristics.

Abstract

We examined the sensitivity of microtubule spools to transport velocity. Perhaps surprisingly, we determined that the steady-state number and size of spools remained constant over a seven-fold range of velocities. Our data on the kinetics of spool assembly further suggest that the main mechanisms underlying spool growth vary during assembly.