We reveal that when the microtubule structure is damaged due to mechanical stress or assembly defects, defective zones "protect" microtubules, thus increasing their lifetime. This process usually biases the habitually random dynamic renewal of the microtubule network. These mechanical reinforcement and selective stabilization processes give the microtubule network properties of adaptation to physical constraints that where previously unknown. These results are published online in the journal
Nature Cell Biology, September 12, 2016.