Flexibility and self-repair of the cell skeleton
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 07:50
in Physics & Chemistry
Researchers at the CEA, the CNRS and the Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble have discovered several mechanical properties, as fascinating as they are unexpected, in microtubules, the main elements in the cell skeleton, and especially their capability of adapting to stress and of self-repair. These discoveries have been possible thanks to the creation of a microfluidic device that makes it possible to attach, fold and measure distortions in microtubules. Microtubules play a crucial role in various processes such as cell division and neuron activity. Their repair dynamic could serve as an inspiration for materials engineering. These results were published in Nature Materials magazine on 7 September 2015.