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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Rep Prog Phys. 2014 Apr;77(4):046603. doi: 10.1088/0034-4885/77/4/046603

Fig. 3. Periodic microtubule buckling induced by contractile beating in cultured heart cells.

Fig. 3

A) A time sequence showing a microtubule buckling and unbuckling successively three times in a beating cardiac myocyte. B) A similar time sequence showing one microtubule buckling and unbuckling at a single location, while neighboring microtubules remain straight. C) A Fourier mode analysis of the microtubule shown in B demonstrating that the amplitude of the bending on wavelengths of 3 µm shows periodic spikes induced by periodic buckling of the microtubule under successive contractile beats. There is some decrease in amplitude of the periodic buckling over time as the intensity of the contractile force decreases due to partial photodamage. Bar, 3 µm. (Reprinted with permission from Brangwynne et al 2006).