microtubule: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “microtubule” mean?
A microscopic tubular structure composed of tubulin proteins, forming part of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and involved in maintaining cell shape, intracellular transport, and cell division.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A microscopic tubular structure composed of tubulin proteins, forming part of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and involved in maintaining cell shape, intracellular transport, and cell division.
In a broader scientific context, any extremely small tube-like structure; in cell biology specifically, a hollow cylindrical filament, typically 25 nanometers in diameter, that is a fundamental component of the cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, and the mitotic spindle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic or usage differences. Spelling follows respective conventions (e.g., 'organisation' vs. 'organization' in surrounding text).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general language, used with identical specificity in academic/technical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “microtubule” in a Sentence
[verb] microtubules (e.g., stabilise, nucleate, depolymerise)microtubule [verb] (e.g., microtubules polymerise)microtubule [preposition] (e.g., microtubule in the axon)[adjective] microtubule (e.g., astral microtubule)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “microtubule” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The centrosome nucleates microtubules to organise the cytoplasm.
- The drug inhibited the cell's ability to polymerise microtubules.
American English
- The drug stabilized the microtubules against depolymerization.
- Kinesin motors walk along microtubules to transport vesicles.
adjective
British English
- The microtubule organising centre is crucial for cell division.
- We studied the microtubule nucleation process in detail.
American English
- Microtubule-associated proteins regulate filament dynamics.
- The researcher focused on microtubule-based transport systems.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in life sciences, particularly cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in cell biology, neurology (axonal transport), and pharmacology (drugs targeting microtubules like taxol).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “microtubule”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “microtubule”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “microtubule”
- Using 'microtubule' to refer to any microscopic tube outside biology (e.g., in nanotechnology).
- Confusing it with 'microfilament' or 'cilium'.
- Misspelling as 'micro-tubule' (the hyphen is not standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Microtubules have multiple key functions: providing structural support and shape to the cell, serving as tracks for the intracellular transport of organelles and vesicles by motor proteins, and forming the mitotic spindle during cell division to separate chromosomes.
No, microtubules are a defining feature of eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells lack a cytoskeleton composed of tubulin-based microtubules, though they have other structural proteins.
Dynamic instability refers to the constant, rapid switching between phases of growth (polymerisation) and shrinkage (depolymerisation) at the ends of microtubules. This allows the cytoskeleton to be highly adaptable and reorganise quickly.
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a well-known chemotherapeutic drug. It stabilises microtubules, preventing their depolymerisation. This disrupts the normal dynamic reorganisation of the mitotic spindle, arresting cell division and leading to cancer cell death.
A microscopic tubular structure composed of tubulin proteins, forming part of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and involved in maintaining cell shape, intracellular transport, and cell division.
Microtubule is usually technical/scientific in register.
Microtubule: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmaɪ.krəʊˈtjuː.bjuːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmaɪ.kroʊˈtuː.bjuːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'micro' (tiny) 'tube' inside a cell. It's like the cell's scaffolding and railway system rolled into one.
Conceptual Metaphor
CELL'S SKELETON/RAILWAY SYSTEM (Microtubules provide structural support like bones and serve as tracks for transporting cargo like a railway).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary protein constituent of a microtubule?