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A Depolymerization Ratchet for Intracellular Transport

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Fluctuations and Order

Part of the book series: Institute for Nonlinear Science ((INLS))

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Abstract

Previously, we have shown how polymerization can generate a directed force by using the free energy of binding to rectify thermal motions. Here we demonstrate that the opposite process of depolymerization can drive cellular transport by a Brownian ratchet mechanism. The model provides an explanation for in vitro experiments on chromosome and microsphere movements that appear to be driven by tubulin depolymerization.

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References

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Authors
  1. Charles S. Peskin
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  2. Vivian Lombillo
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  3. George Oster
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Mark Millonas

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© 1996 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

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Peskin, C.S., Lombillo, V., Oster, G. (1996). A Depolymerization Ratchet for Intracellular Transport. In: Millonas, M. (eds) Fluctuations and Order. Institute for Nonlinear Science. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3992-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3992-5_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8463-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3992-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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