Major: Physics, Computer Science Minor
Research Department: Biophysics Graduation Date: August 2017 Abstract: Microtubules (MTs) are dynamic polymers of αβ-tubulin critical to cell function that exhibit extended polymerization and depolymerization phases; transitions between phases are dependent on the nucleotide (GTP or GDP) bound to β-tubulins near the MT end. In yeast tubulin, we have expressed mutations that perturb MT dynamics but keep the complex behavior. To test our understanding of MT dynamics, a model of MT dynamics is simulated and reproduces many experimental observations. |