Predoc-2007 Karsenti Lab

Spatial Control of Microtubule Dynamics in Spindle Assembly by Chromatin

A mitotic aster in a gradient. Each line represents a microtubule. Blue tips indicate shrinking microtubules, white tips growing.

Tasks

• Perform tasks in introduction to Image Analysis with MATLAB scripting
• Write your own script to perform basic image-transforms and measurements
• Run simulations of model to test hypotheses (Mechanical contact vs. Chemical gradient model)
• Discuss alternative models and experiments

Tools

• Cytosim- with Gradient Module- cytoskeletal mechanics simulator
• MATLAB- Data analysis

References

• Carazo-Salas RE, Karsenti E. 2003 Long-range communication between chromatin and microtubules in Xenopus egg extracts. Curr Biol. 13(19):1728-1733.
• Nedelec and Foethke (in press) Collective Langevin Dynamics of Flexible Cytoskeletal Fibers. Journal of New Physics.
• www.cytosim.org

1. The results [plots]. The evaluation of the simulation is done using the asymmetry ratio