Figure 6. Microtubules adopt a DIY (Do It Yourself) approach toward array building.

The microtubule lattice contains features at two length scales: micron-sized geometrical parameters encompassing the arrangement of polymers and structural defects of the lattice, and nanometer-scale "tubulin codes" comprising post-translational modifications and isotypes of tubulin. Both sets of features regulate MAP activity and polymer dynamics in order to direct the self-organization of microtubules into diverse cellular arrays.