Dynamics of linear protein polymer disassembly.

This report presents a kinetic model for endwise depolymerization of linear, self-assembling protein systems. We develop a reliable method for predicting the shape of depolymerization curves (remaining polymer weight versus time) on the basis of the initial polymer length distribution. Computer simulations are used to illustrate changes in the polymer length distribution and average polymer weight during disassembly. In addition, our method provides an accurate determination of the microscopic rate constant for subunit release. Application of this analysis to dilution-induced and cold induced disassembly of microtubules is illustrated in the preceding paper (Karr, T.L., Kristofferson, D., and Purich, D.L. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 8560-8566). A survey of other possible applications of this treatment to microtubules, flagella, F-actin, and tobacco mosaic virus protein is included.