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CLIP-170 highlights growing microtubule ends in vivo

F Perez1, G S Diamantopoulos, R Stalder

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Sciences III, University of Geneva, Switzerland. perez@cellbio.unige.ch

Cell
|March 3, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged CLIP170 visualizes microtubule dynamics. CLIP170 appears to treadmill on growing microtubule ends, highlighting newly polymerized tubulin structures.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Motors
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Background:

  • The endosome-microtubule linker protein CLIP170 plays a role in intracellular transport.
  • Understanding the dynamic behavior of CLIP170 at microtubule plus ends is crucial for cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To visualize and analyze the dynamic properties of CLIP170 at microtubule plus ends in vivo.
  • To investigate the mechanism by which CLIP170 interacts with growing microtubules.

Main Methods:

  • Construction of a GFP-CLIP170 chimera for live-cell imaging.
  • Microscopy to observe the localization and movement of GFP-CLIP170.
  • Analysis of GFP-CLIP170 speckle dynamics and response to drugs affecting microtubule dynamics.

Main Results:

  • GFP-CLIP170 binds in dynamic stretches along a subset of growing microtubule ends.
  • These stretches move with microtubule elongation at speeds of 0.15-0.4 microm/s.
  • Analysis suggests CLIP170 treadmills on microtubule ends rather than being transported.
  • Drug treatments targeting microtubule dynamics rapidly inhibit GFP-CLIP170 movement.

Conclusions:

  • GFP-CLIP170 serves as a reliable marker for growing microtubule plus ends.
  • CLIP170 exhibits treadmilling behavior at microtubule ends, indicating specific recognition of newly polymerized tubulin.
  • This mechanism highlights the dynamic interaction between CLIP170 and the growing cytoskeleton.

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