Peter Hinow

Publications of Peter Hinow

• Modeling the effects of drug binding on the dynamic instability of microtubules.

  Authors: Peter Hinow, Vahid Rezania, Manu Lopus, Mary Ann Jordan, Jack A Tuszyński

  Physical biology. 08/2011; 8(5):056004.

  We propose a stochastic model that accounts for the growth, catastrophe and rescue processes of steady-state microtubules assembled from MAP-free tubulin in the possible presence of aWe propose a stochastic model that accounts for the growth, catastrophe and rescue processes of steady-state microtubules assembled from MAP-free tubulin in the possible presence of a microtubule-associated drug. As an example of the latter, we both experimentally and theoretically study the perturbation of microtubule dynamic instability by S-methyl-D-DM1, a synthetic derivative of the microtubule-targeted agent maytansine and a potential anticancer agent. Our model predicts that among the drugs that act locally at the microtubule tip, primary inhibition of the loss of GDP tubulin results in stronger damping of microtubule dynamics than inhibition of GTP tubulin addition. On the other hand, drugs whose action occurs in the interior of the microtubule need to be present in much higher concentrations to have visible effects.

• The ciliate Paramecium shows higher motility in non-uniform chemical landscapes.

  Authors: Carl Giuffre, Peter Hinow, Ryan Vogel, Tanvir Ahmed, Roman Stocker, Thomas R Consi, J Rudi Strickler

  PloS one. 01/2011; 6(4):e15274.

  We study the motility behavior of the unicellular protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia in a microfluidic device that can be prepared with a landscape of attracting or repelling chemicals. We investigateWe study the motility behavior of the unicellular protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia in a microfluidic device that can be prepared with a landscape of attracting or repelling chemicals. We investigate the spatial distribution of the positions of the individuals at different time points with methods from spatial statistics and Poisson random point fields. This makes quantitative the informal notion of "uniform distribution" (or lack thereof). Our device is characterized by the absence of large systematic biases due to gravitation and fluid flow. It has the potential to be applied to the study of other aquatic chemosensitive organisms as well. This may result in better diagnostic devices for environmental pollutants.

• Continuous model for microtubule dynamics with catastrophe, rescue, and nucleation processes.

  Authors: Peter Hinow, Vahid Rezania, Jack A Tuszyński

  Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics. 09/2009; 80(3 Pt 1):031904.

  Microtubules are a major component of the cytoskeleton distinguished by highly dynamic behavior both in vitro and in vivo referred to as dynamic instability. We propose a general mathematical modelMicrotubules are a major component of the cytoskeleton distinguished by highly dynamic behavior both in vitro and in vivo referred to as dynamic instability. We propose a general mathematical model that accounts for the growth, catastrophe, rescue, and nucleation processes in the polymerization of microtubules from tubulin dimers. Our model is an extension of various mathematical models developed earlier formulated in order to capture and unify the various aspects of tubulin polymerization. While attempting to use a minimal number of adjustable parameters, the proposed model covers a broad range of behaviors and has predictive features discussed in the paper. We have analyzed the range of resultant dynamical behavior of the microtubules by changing each of the parameter values at a time and observing the emergence of various dynamical regimes that agree well with the previously reported experimental data and behavior.