Mean-field theory approach to three-dimensional nematic phase transitions in microtubules

Summary, in English

Microtubules are dynamic intracellular fibers that have been observed experimentally to undergo spontaneous self-alignment. We formulate a three-dimensional (3D) mean-field theory model to analyze the nematic phase transition of microtubules growing and interacting within a 3D space, then make a comparison with computational simulations. We identify a control parameter Geff and predict a unique critical value Geff=1.56 for which a phase transition can occur. Furthermore, we show both analytically and using simulations that this predicted critical value does not depend on the presence of zippering. The mean-field theory developed here provides an analytical estimate of microtubule patterning characteristics without running time-consuming simulations and is a step towards bridging scales from microtubule behavior to multicellular simulations.

• Författare: Cameron Gibson; Henrik Jönsson; Tamsin A. Spelman
• Avdelning/ar: Centrum för miljö- och klimatvetenskap (CEC)
• Publiceringsår: 2023
• Språk: Engelska
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Physical Review E
• Volym: 108
• Issue: 6
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.108.064414
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: American Physical Society
• Ämne: Biophysics
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 2470-0045