Question

How do microtubules grow? What are the building blocks of microtubules? What form favors assembly and what form favors disassembly?

Answer 1

Microtubules are small, hollow tubes composed of polymerized dimers of α-tubulin and β-tubulin. They grow by adding more tubulin subunits to one end and can disassemble at the other end. Microtubules have important functions in cell division, cell shape, organelle movement, and the formation of cilia and flagella.

Step-by-step explanation:

Microtubules are small, hollow tubes composed of polymerized dimers of α-tubulin and β-tubulin. These tubulin dimers come together to form a structure with a diameter of about 25 nm. Microtubules grow by adding more tubulin subunits to one end, like adding links to a chain. The addition of tubulin dimers to the plus end of a microtubule is favored by GTP hydrolysis, while disassembly is favored at the opposite end, called the minus end. Microtubules play important roles in cell division, cell shape, organelle movement, and the formation of cilia and flagella.