Microtubule role in cortical rotation of one-cell amphibian eggs simulated in normal and microgravity
- Paper number
IAC-08.A1.7.-A2.7.6
- Author
Dr. Comron Nouri, University of Alberta, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Richard Gordon, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Jack Tuszynski, University of Alberta, Canada
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Cortical rotation during the first cell cycle of development after fertilization of amphibian eggs is speculated to be related to the shear forces applied to the cortex from dynamic polymerization and depolymerization of microtubules, which are possibly aligned as a result of the sloshing of yolk and cytoplasm under gravity. In this work we attempt to use a simulation of dynamics of microtubules in a viscous medium to calculate the collective torque applied to the cortex from microtubules. The microtubules are initially in random orientations. Then as the initial statistical imbalance applies the first torque and causes the first movement in an arbitrary direction, the sloshing of the heavy yolk in the spherical egg slightly aligns microtubules in the same direction. This in turn, causes a stronger torque in the same direction and consequently creates a positive feedback system that can cause the rotation. This is being simulated in normal and zero gravity to study the validity of this assertion.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A1.7.-A2.7.6.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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