AI Article Synopsis
- The experiment aims to showcase spontaneous ordering and symmetry breaking of kinesin-driven microtubules in an optical trap by analyzing the necessary power and heating effects.
- First-principles simulations of the trapped microtubules reveal different types of motion and fluid velocity around the trap, identifying three distinct phases marked by various symmetry breakings.
- Under specific conditions, the microtubules exhibit a tendency to align and rotate in unison around the trap in one direction.
Article Abstract
We propose an experiment to demonstrate spontaneous ordering and symmetry breaking of kinesin-driven microtubules confined to an optical trap. Calculations involving the feasibility of such an experiment are first performed which analyze the power needed to confine microtubules and address heating concerns. We then present the results of first-principles simulations of active microtubules confined in such a trap and analyze the types of motion observed by the microtubules as well as the velocity of the surrounding fluid, both near the trap and in the far-field. We find three distinct phases characterized by breaking of distinct symmetries and also analyze the power spectrum of the angular momenta of polymers to further quantify the differences between these phases. Under the correct conditions, microtubules were found to spontaneously align with one another and circle the trap in one direction.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8452819 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10867-021-09578-5 | DOI Listing |
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