Abstract:
Motivated by the application of Winkler-like model for buckling analysis of embedded carbon nanotubes,an orthotropic Winkler-like model was developed to study buckling behavior of embedded cytoskeletal microtubules within cytoplasm.Experimental observations of buckling of embedded cytoskeletal microtubules reveal that embedded microtubules bear a large compressive force as compared to free microtubules.Our theoretical model predicts that embedded microtubules in elastic medium bear large compressive forces than free microtubules.The estimated critical pressure is found not only in good agreement with the experimental values of pressure-induced buckling of microtubules[Needleman D J,Ojeda-Lopez M A,Kai Ewert U R,Miller H P,Wilson L,Safiny C R.Biophys J,2005,89(5):3410-3423; Needleman D J,Ojeda-Lopez M A,Raviv U,Ewert K,Jones J B,Miller H P L,Wilso L,Safinya C R.Phys Rev Lett,2004,93(19):1981041-1981044.].But also,due to mechanical coupling of microtubules with surrounding elastic medium,critical buckling force has increased considerably,which well explains the theory that mechanical coupling of microtubules with the elastic medium increases compressive forces that microtubules can sustain[Brangwynne C P,MacKintosh F C,Kumar S,Geisse N A,Talbot J,Mahadevan L,Parker K K,Ingber D E,Weitz D A.The Journal of Cell Biology,2006,173 (5):733-741] suggesting that the present model is a good approximation for buckling analysis of embedded microtubules.