In many intracellular processes, the length distribution of microtubules is controlled by a class of motor proteins, called depolymerases . Experiments have shown that, following  binding to the surface of a microtubule, depolymerases are transported to the microtubule tip(s) by diffusion or directed walk and, then, depolymerize the microtubule from the tip(s) after accumulating there. We develop a quantitative model to study the depolymerizing action of such a generic motor protein, and its possible effects on the length distribution of microtubules. We show that, when the motor protein concentration in solution exceeds a critical value, a steady state is reached where the distribution is non-monotonic provided the motor processivity is sufficiently small . Our findings suggest that such motor proteins have a central role in ensuring precise control of MT lengths  .
In many intracellular processes, the length distribution of microtubules is controlled by depolymerizing motor proteins . Experiments have shown that, following non-specific binding to the surface of a microtubule, depolymerizers are transported to the microtubule tip(s) by diffusion or directed walk and, then, depolymerize the microtubule from the tip(s) after accumulating there. We develop a quantitative model to study the depolymerizing action of such a generic motor protein, and its possible effects on the length distribution of microtubules. We show that, when the motor protein concentration in solution exceeds a critical value, a steady state is reached where the length distribution is, in general, non-monotonic with a single peak. However, for highly processive motors and large motor densities, this distribution effectively becomes an exponential decay . Our findings suggest that such motor proteins may be selectively used by the cell to ensure precise control of MT lengths . The model is also used to analyze experimental observations of motor-induced depolymerization .
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a class of motor proteins, called depolymerases
depolymerizing motor proteins
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non-specific
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depolymerases
depolymerizers
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distribution is
length distribution is, in general,
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provided the motor processivity is sufficiently small
with a single peak. However, for highly processive motors and large motor densities, this distribution effectively becomes an exponential decay
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have a central role in ensuring
may be selectively used by the cell to ensure
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. The model is also used to analyze experimental observations of motor-induced depolymerization