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. 1984 Sep;81(18):5772-6.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.18.5772.

Phase changes at the end of a microtubule with a GTP cap

T L Hill, Y Chen

Phase changes at the end of a microtubule with a GTP cap

T L Hill et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Sep.

Abstract

Examination of Monte Carlo kinetic simulations, based on a realistic set of microscopic rate constants that apply to the end of a microtubule with a GTP cap, suggests that the end of a microtubule alternates between two quasimacroscopic phases. In one phase, the microtubule end has a GTP cap that fluctuates in size; in the other phase, the GTP cap has been lost. These repeated phase changes take place at any given tubulin concentration in a wide range of concentrations. While in the first phase, the microtubule grows slowly; while in the second phase, it shortens rapidly and may disappear completely. These results are closely related to the recent experimental work of Mitchison and Kirschner [Mitchison, T. & Kirschner, M.W. (1984) Nature (London), in press].

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