Determine about the microtubules

The microtubules are hollow tubular structures formed by a special arrangement of two proteins called the alpha and beta tubulins. The microtubules play a leading role during cell division. At that time the chromosomes attached to the mitotic spindle, composed of microtubular fibres, move apart due to contractions of the microtubule proteins. The motility of eukaryotic cells, the movement of flagella and cilia, the movement of the microvilli of the intestinal brush border cells, are all associated with microtubules. The movement of leukocytes in the blood stream and the transport of molecules along the axonal fibres are also due to contractions of the proteins constituting the microtubules. The cytoskeleton is, thus, an important structured feature of the cell, which is essential for the various kinds of movements associated with the cell and its internal structures. This is achieved by the special proteins that constitute the cytoskeleton, by a process of polymerisation and depolymerisation, resulting in changes in shape and thus resulting in movement.