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Mechanobiology

May the force be with microtubules

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 24, page 603 (2023)Cite this article

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The cytoskeleton has an important role in adapting to mechanical changes surrounding the cell. Microtubules respond dynamically to cell migration, but how the force involved in this process affects microtubule dynamics remains unclear. Now, Li et al. find that redistribution of the plus-end-binding protein CLASP stabilizes microtubules following stretch and compression cycles (SCC).

Application of SCC revealed a higher number of bent microtubules under compression and experiments with nocodazole, which disrupts microtubule polymerisation, showed increased resistance to nocodazole-mediated depolymerization following SCC, indicating higher stability of microtubules. Repeated SCC led to an almost proportional increase in stabilization, which lasted for approximately 10–30 minutes after application of the last cycle.

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  • Saraswathibhatla, A. et al. Cell–extracellular matrix mechanotransduction in 3D. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 24, 495–516 (2023)

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  1. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology http://www.nature.com/nrm/

    Lisa Heinke

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  1. Lisa Heinke
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Correspondence to Lisa Heinke.

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Heinke, L. May the force be with microtubules. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 24, 603 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-023-00642-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-023-00642-7

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