Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 12: Cytoskeleton I

BP 12.1: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 09:30–10:00, BAR/0205

Tuning the Tracks: Functional Diversity Encoded in Microtubule Lattice States — •Lukas Kapitein — Utrecht University

Microtubules are active polymers that power intracellular transport and signaling. In cells, functionally distinct microtubule subsets are known to coexist, but the underlying mechanisms that specify these subsets have remained unclear. I will show that microtubule lattice conformation, specifically expanded and compacted states, acts as a tunable structural parameter that regulates both motor-driven transport and cytoskeletal signaling. Whereas expanded lattice states define tracks for Kinesin-1 driven transport, compacted states sequester specific signaling factors, both independently of tubulin chemical modification. These findings identify microtubule lattice plasticity as a fundamental mechanism by which active cytoskeletal matter encodes functional diversity.