Figure 2

Fig. 2. Life history plots of MTs during approach to the steady-state. (A). Dynamics of distal (plus) end deep in the cytoplasm. Phases of growth are significantly longer than phases of shortening resulting in overall growth (drift) to the margin. (B). Dynamics of distal (plus) end at the margin. Prolonged pauses are interrupted with brief epizodes of growth and shortening. (C) Dynamics of a MT with free proximal (minus) end. Continuous polymerization at distal (plus) end and deplymerization at proximal (minus) end results in treadmilling, but since shortening exceeds growth, the MT depolymerized. Reference point for each plot is the position of the end at zero time.