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Vibrations in Microtubules

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Abstract

Vibrations in microtubules and actin filaments are analysed using amethod similar to that employed for description of lattice vibrationsin solid state physics. The derived dispersion relations show thatvibrations in microtubules can have optical and acoustical branches.The highest frequency of vibrations in microtubules and in actinfilaments is of the order of 108 Hz. Vibrations are polar andinteraction with surroundings is mediated by the generatedelectromagnetic field. Supply of energy from hydrolysis of guanosinetriphosphate (GTP) in microtubules and of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) in actin filaments may excite the vibrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Pokorný

  2. Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Pokorný, F. Jelínek  & V. Trkal

  3. Institute of Biophysics of Free University, Berlin, Germany

    I. Lamprecht & R. Hölzel

Authors
  1. J. Pokorný
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  2. F. Jelínek
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  3. V. Trkal
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  4. I. Lamprecht
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  5. R. Hölzel
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Pokorný, J., Jelínek , F., Trkal, V. et al. Vibrations in Microtubules. Journal of Biological Physics 23, 171–179 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005092601078

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