A nonlinear model of the dynamics of radial dislocations in microtubules

We have established a new dynamical model of microtubules based on their intrinsic dipolar character. The model assumes a single angular degree of freedom per dimer describing the conformational displacements of constituent dimers in radial direction. A corresponding nonlinear dynamical equation of motion is solved both analytically, using the simplest equation method, and numerically. It is shown by both approaches that kink solitons could be elicited and sustained to propagate along the microtubule. We suggest that this model could explain some dynamical functional properties of microtubules, including the triggering of the onset of their depolymerization. 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.