A stochastic model for microtubule length dynamics

I. Mazilu, G. Zamora and J. Gonzalez

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2010, vol. 389, issue 3, 419-427

Abstract: In this paper, we use random walk theory to describe the length dynamics of microtubules, one of the principal components of the cytoskeleton. We present a simple two-state model (growing and shrinking) of microtubule length evolution that incorporates a variable rate of switching between the states. Using the generating function technique, we calculate the mean length of microtubule, its variance and diffusion coefficient. We also report analytical and computer simulation results for the mean number of positive monomers in microtubule, and find good qualitative agreement with experimental data.

Keywords: Stochastic processes; Biased random walk; Microtubule dynamics; Generating function technique (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:389:y:2010:i:3:p:419-427

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2009.10.017

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