Altered catastrophe rate of kMT predicts KT positioning.

<p>(A) Schematic representation of kMT-KT interaction, showing various ingredients used in the model. In this model, the catastrophe events of the kMT depend on the applied resistance, instantaneous length (<i>l</i>_kMT) and depth of penetration (<i>δ</i>). Mutation weakens the effective stiffness of the KT fibrils (represented by springs), thereby enhances the kMT polymerization. This effectively pushes the mutated KT away from the SPB. (B) Probability distribution of the KT position measured from the SPB during anaphase. Green and magenta (color online) represent wild-type (WT) and mutant distributions, respectively. The average distances of the KT from the SPB are ∼350 nm for the wild-type and ∼450 nm for the mutant. Shifting of the mutant distribution to the right signifies a larger KT distance from the SPB. Inset shows the temporal change in the KT position for WT (green) and mutant (magenta). (C) Probability distribution of the KT position during G1 phase, plotted in the same manner as in (B). The average distances of the KT from the SPB are ∼510 nm and ∼660 nm for the wild-type and the mutant, respectively. Inset showing the time dependent position of the KT for both wild-type and mutant.