Fig. 2
Dynamic stress pattern reorientation leads to remodeling of the microtubule network. (A and B) Time evolution of the MT network morphology (at various timepoints including 25, 100, 105, 150, 250 min for a rapid transition and 100, 215, 225, 250, 350 min for a gradual transition). Grey dashed line indicates the timepoint (100 min) after which reorientation of anisotropic stress takes place. The blue dash line indicates the timepoint after which anisotropic stress is stabilized. Initial network stress pattern is predominant in y direction. In A, stress pattern reorients instantaneously and becomes predominant in x direction after 100 min. In B, stress pattern gradually reorients until 250 min and becomes steady afterwards. (C and D) Relative frequency showing the distribution of microtubule orientation angle at various timepoints during stress pattern reorientation in A and B respectively. 90˚ is equivalent to the direction parallel to y axis, and 0˚ or 180˚ is equivalent to the direction parallel to x axis. A flat curve indicates homogeneous distribution of MT orientation angles. (E, F) Time evolution of the network order parameter Sp,y which is calculated with respect to the y direction (E) and network microtubule segment densities (F) in four cases: rapid stress transition/reorientation (blue dashed line), gradual transition of stress with reorientation within 150 min (red dashed line), 100 min (black dashed line), and 50 min (cyan dashed line). Cases represented by blue and red correspond to those shown in A and B, respectively. In E, the dashed lines represent time evolution of the value of stress anisotropy, σx / σy, indicated by the right y axis.