PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Marcel Prelogović
AU  - Lora Winters
AU  - Ana Milas
AU  - Iva M. Tolić
AU  - Nenad Pavin
TI  - Pivot-and-bond model explains microtubule bundle formation
AID  - 10.1101/157719
DP  - 2017 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 157719
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/06/29/157719.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/06/29/157719.full
AB  - During mitosis, bundles of microtubules form a spindle, which is responsible for proper segregation of the genetic material. A key question is what are the physical principles underlying the formation and stability of microtubule bundles. Here we show, that random angular movement of microtubules around the spindle pole and forces exerted by passive cross-linking proteins are sufficient for the formation of stable microtubule bundles. We test these predictions by experiments in wild-type and ase1Δ fission yeast cells. In conclusion, the angular motion drives the alignment of microtubules, which in turn allows the cross-linking proteins to connect the microtubules into a stable bundle.