"Three dimensional microtubule-based transport logistics"

 

 

 

Microtubules are akin to highways in many living cells. Cargo delivery often proceeds along these filaments but the actual logistics is a complex process. Of note, cargos often traverse filament intersections, where filaments may be positioned at various angles and various displacement to each other. Such complexity is inherently not reducible to a 1D or 2D model. However, to date most modeling of microtubule-based cargo transport has been in simplified  surface-bound assays which are not fully  faithful to the intracellular constraints. I will demonstrate our novel 3D microtubule motility assay in which many microtubules can be independently held and manipulated in 3D. I will also show how we quantify forces exerted by cargos on microtubules during each crossing event. I will discuss progress to date achieved with our in vitro approach. In particular I will show that geometry of the intersection does substantially affect cargo navigation across an individual intersection.