MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF INDIVIDUAL MICROTUBULES MEASURED USING AFM

Changes in the structure of microtubules under the influence of various diseased states and chemical agents could be probed by measuring their mechanical properties. Despite the inarguable importance of the knowledge of MTs stiffness and a significant number of performed experiments, there doesn't seem to be a consensus on the actual numerical values - values reported in the literature range between 1 MPa (1) and 1 GPa (2). METHODS: using AFM, a method has been developed for elastically deforming microtubules (Figure 1). It consists of depositing microtubules on a porous surface and elastically deforming it with an AFM tip. Various procedures for fixing microtubules on substrates have been investigated and measurements in different conditions have been performed.