Beyond the Tip: Lattice Dynamics, Seams, and the Mechanism of Microtubule Fracture

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical analysis of microtubule lattice fracture, emphasizing the role of seams and defects in damage propagation, and offers new estimates for lattice parameters that challenge previous models.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed lattice fracture model considering multi-seam structures and monomer defects, improving understanding of microtubule stability and damage mechanisms.

Findings

Seams act as pathways for damage propagation.

Monomer vacancies destabilize the lattice.

The ratio of longitudinal to lateral binding energies is about 1.5.

Abstract

The structural integrity of microtubules is paramount for cellular function. We present a theoretical analysis of their lattice fracture, focusing on the influence of multi-seam structures arising from monomer defects and aiming to provide a more accurate estimation of GDP lattice parameters. Our findings reveal that seams function as pre-existing pathways that accelerate damage propagation. Consequently, monomer vacancies destabilize the lattice due to the inherent structural loss of tubulin-tubulin contacts and the additive acceleration of fracture through multiple seams. Importantly, the comparison of our simulations with experiments on lattice fracture suggests that the intrinsic ratio of longitudinal to lateral binding energies is bounded at approximately 1.5, challenging previous predictions of lattice anisotropy from tip-growth models and highlighting the urgent need to incorporate into current growth models parameters obtained from lattice dynamics.