Self-organisation of acentrosomal microtubule arrays

Cells control and remodel their shape using protein filaments such as microtubules, which can act as both a skeleton providing mechanical stability and as transport highways delivering cargo to specific regions of the cell.

We will develop a mechanistic understanding of how active and passive microtubule crosslinkers cooperate in order to form highly ordered and functional microtubule arrays. We will use biochemistry, biophysics and in vitro imaging assays to investigate the formation of microtubule arrays in living cells to identify the principles and minimal requirements for microtubule self-organisation.