DRY & WET: <i>In vitro</i> Dissipative Structures of Microtubules and Polysaccharides by Interfacial Instability

OKEYOSHI Kosuke

doi:10.1295/koron.2018-0006

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DRY & WET：界面不安定性による微小管と多糖の<i>in vitro</i>散逸構造
DRY & WET : 界面不安定性による微小管と多糖のin vitro散逸構造
DRY & WET : カイメンフアンテイセイニヨルビショウカントタトウノ in vitro サンイツコウゾウ

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Description

Beautiful patterns exist in natural materials, e.g., snow crystals, turbo spirals, and spatial partitions in plants such as fruits, flowers, and leaves (phyllotaxis) are well known. Here we ask the questions: How are they created? Why are they created? And, for what purpose are they created? These geometric patterns are formed through self-organization in natural environments. On the other hand, it is possible to artificially create spatial patterns as dissipative structures by using synthetic molecules in physicochemically controlled environments. In this study, several macropatterns of biopolymers in physicochemically controlled environments, i.e., in vitro, are introduced: teardrop patterns of microtubules, macrospace partitioning of microtubules, and that of polysaccharides from aqueous liquid crystalline states. These patterns result from the interfacial instability caused by the oriented states of the self-assembled microfibers at the air-liquid interface. By applying stress to the interface or drying the liquid from a limited space, the microfibers in the bundle states can be converted into patterns similar to those seen in living organisms, “from one space into multiple spaces”.

Journal

KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU

KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU 75 (5), 396-405, 2018-09-25

The Society of Polymer Science, Japan

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