Evidences of new biophysical properties of microtubules

Microtubules (MTs) are cylindrical polymers of the protein tubulin, are key constituents of all eukaryotic cells cytoskeleton and are involved in key cellular functions. Among them MTs are claimed to be involved as sub-cellular information or quantum information communication systems. MTs are the closest biological equivalent to the well known carbon nanotubes (CNTs) material. We evaluated some biophysical properties of MTs through two specific physical measures of resonance and birefringence, on the assumption that when tubulin and MTs show different biophysical behaviours, this should be due to the special structural properties of MTs. The MTs, as well as CNTs, may behave as oscillators, this could make them superreactive receivers able to amplify radio wave signals. Our experimental approach verified the existence of mechanical resonance in MTs at a frequency of 1510 MHz. The analysis of the results of birefringence experiment highlights that the MTs react to electromagnetic fields in a different way than tubulin.