Microtubule self-repair

The stochastic switching between microtubule growth and shrinkage is a fascinating unique process in the regulation of cytoskeleton. To understand it, almost all attention has been focused on ends. However, recent research revived idea that tubulin dimers can also be exchanged protofilaments along shaft, thus repairing protecting it from disassembly. Here, we review describing this phenomenon, mechanisms regulating removal insertion dimers, as well potential implications for key functions network, such intracellular transport cell polarization.