The cytoskeleton provides the mechanical scaffold and maintains the integrity of cells. It is usually believed that one type of cytoskeleton biopolymer, microtubules, bears compressive force. In vitro experiments found that isolated microtubules may form an Euler buckling pattern with a long-wavelength for very small compressive force. This, however, does not agree with in vivo experiments where microtubules buckle with a short-wavelength. In order to understand the structural role of microtubules in vivo, we developed mechanics models that study microtubule buckling supported by cytoplasm. The microtubule is modeled as a linearly elastic cylindrical tube while the cytoplasm is characterized by different types of materials, namely, viscous, elastic, or viscoelastic. The dynamic evolution equations, the fastest growth rate, the critical wavelength, and compressive force, as well as equilibrium buckling configurations are obtained. The ability for a cell to sustain compressive force does not solely rely on microtubules but is also supported by the elasticity of cytoplasm. With the support of the cytoplasm, an individual microtubule can sustain a compressive force on the order of . The relatively stiff microtubules and compliant cytoplasm are combined to provide a scaffold for compressive force.
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e-mail: hanqing.jiang@asu.edu
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November 2008
Research Papers
Mechanics of Microtubule Buckling Supported by Cytoplasm
Hanqing Jiang,
Hanqing Jiang
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: hanqing.jiang@asu.edu
Arizona State University
, Tempe, AZ 85287
Search for other works by this author on:
Jiaping Zhang
Jiaping Zhang
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Arizona State University
, Tempe, AZ 85287
Search for other works by this author on:
Hanqing Jiang
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Arizona State University
, Tempe, AZ 85287e-mail: hanqing.jiang@asu.edu
Jiaping Zhang
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Arizona State University
, Tempe, AZ 85287J. Appl. Mech. Nov 2008, 75(6): 061019 (9 pages)
Published Online: August 21, 2008
Article history
Received:
December 20, 2007
Revised:
May 22, 2008
Published:
August 21, 2008
Citation
Jiang, H., and Zhang, J. (August 21, 2008). "Mechanics of Microtubule Buckling Supported by Cytoplasm." ASME. J. Appl. Mech. November 2008; 75(6): 061019. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2966216
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