Microtubule Length Regulation by Molecular Motors

Length regulation of microtubules (MTs) is essential for many
cellular processes. Molecular motors like kinesin-8, which move
along MTs and also act as depolymerases, are known as key players
in MT dynamics. However, the regulatory mechanisms of length
control remain elusive. Here, we investigate a stochastic model
accounting for the interplay between polymerization kinetics and
motor-induced depolymerization. We determine the dependence of MT
length and variance on rate constants and motor concentration.
Moreover, our analyses reveal how collective phenomena lead to a
well-defined MT length.