The cell's microtubules: Growth dynamics, ordering of dipoles and modes of energy propagation

The cytoskeleton consists of networks of protein polymers which structurally and dynamically organize interiors of living cells. Microtubules are the best characterized and perhaps most fundamental filamentous subcellular structures known to date. Microtubules exhibit a fascinating array of self-organization phenomena which are very sensitive to various laboratory conditions. In this paper we discuss the main physical features of microtubules focusing our attention on their dynamics of assembly (disassembly), nonlinear modes suitable for energy transfer along the protofilaments and the possible dipolar phases which we predict.