Editing Microtubule (section)

== History ==
Tubulin and microtubule-mediated processes, like cell locomotion, were seen by early microscopists, like [[Leeuwenhoek]] (1677). However, the fibrous nature of flagella and other structures were discovered two centuries later, with improved [[light microscope]]s, and confirmed in the 20th century with the [[electron microscope]] and biochemical studies.<ref>Wayne, R. 2009. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=t_biw80LgjwC Plant Cell Biology: From Astronomy to Zoology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221025111/https://books.google.com/books?id=t_biw80LgjwC |date=2024-02-21 }}''. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press, p. 165.</ref>

''[[In vitro]]'' assays for microtubule [[motor protein]]s such as [[dynein]] and [[kinesin]] are researched by fluorescently tagging a microtubule and fixing either the microtubule or motor proteins to a microscope slide, then visualizing the slide with video-enhanced microscopy to record the travel of the motor proteins. This allows the movement of the motor proteins along the microtubule or the microtubule moving across the motor proteins.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Cooper GM |date=2000 |title=Microtubule Motors and Movements |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9833/ |url-status=live |journal=The Cell: A Molecular Approach. 2nd Edition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203155423/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9833/ |archive-date=2021-12-03 |access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref> Consequently, some microtubule processes can be determined by [[kymograph]].<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Kapoor V, Hirst WG, Hentschel C, Preibisch S, Reber S |date=March 2019 |title=MTrack: Automated Detection, Tracking, and Analysis of Dynamic Microtubules |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=9 |issue=1 |page=3794 |bibcode=2019NatSR...9.3794K |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-37767-1 |pmc=6405942 |pmid=30846705 |doi-access=free}}</ref>