Encyclopedia > Microtubules

  Article Content

Microtubule

Redirected from Microtubules

Microtubules are protein structures found within cells. They are generally long and form a structural network (the cytoskeleton) within the cell's cytoplasm, but in addition to structural support microtubules are used in many other processes as well. They form a substrate on which other cellular chemicals can interact, they are used in intracellular transport, and are involved in cell motility. The assembly and disassembly of microtubules into their subcomponent tubulin[?] is one way in which cells can change their shape. A notable structure involving microtubules is the mitotic spindle used by eukaryotic cells to segregate their chromosomes correctly during cell division. Microtubules are also responsible for the flagella of eukaryotic cells (prokaryote flagella are entirely different).

Roger Penrose has proposed that the hollow cores of microtubules inside neurons form an environment capable of supporting quantum-scale information processing and conscious awareness. There is no evidence to support this proposition at this time, and it is not widely accepted.

See also: Taxol



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
1904

... author and expert on mythology March 28 - Werner Bahlsen[?], biscuit[?] producer (+ 1985) April 3 - Sally Rand[?], dancer (+ 1979) April 7 - Ralph Bunche[?], ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 24.1 ms