Microtubules are cylindrical intracellular structures made of tubulin, used by eukaryotic cells to regulate shape and movement. They fluctuate in size and aid in cell division, motility, and other functions. Mysteries remain about their activation and growth.
Microtubules are intracellular structures that are shaped like long cylinders or tubes. Generally, it will be between 20 and 25 nanometers in diameter and can be affected by the introduction of various drugs. It is used by eukaryotic cells to regulate the shape and control of cell movement within the body.
In its current structure, a microtubule is composed primarily of tubulin, a naturally produced protein. From the outward appearance, it will appear as a long, rigid unit of round construction. The walls are generally very strong and somewhat rigid in composition. Besides playing an important role in the growth and shape of cells, the tubes also help in the process of cell division and motility.
A characteristic of the microtubule is that the actual size of the tube will fluctuate depending on the need for operation. When cells need additional material to aid in cell division or for motility, the microtubule will expand and begin the process of making the needed material. Once the job is done, it will shrink slightly in size and go into a semi-dormant state, until it is reactivated by the cell for more work. The tube can shrink and expand multiple times during the life of the cell, with no apparent decrease in efficiency over time.
Considered one of the major components of the cell cytoskeleton, the microtubule aids in nearly all types of cell function. It is part of important tasks such as vesicular transport, cytokinesis and mitosis. While much is known about how the microtubule works, there are still many mysteries about how the tube is activated, such as what causes it to shrink after performing a task and what causes it to grow back when needed by the cell.
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