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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
Published on: June 23, 2022
Gamma-tubulin: the microtubule organizer?
1Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, 484 W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Abstract:
Microtubules are composed predominantly of two related proteins: alpha- and beta-tubulin. These proteins form the tubulin heterodimer, which is the basic building block of microtubules. Surprisingly, recent molecular genetic studies have revealed the existence of gamma-tubulin, a new member of the tubulin family. Like alpha- and beta-tubulin, gamma-tubulin is essential for microtubule function but, unlike alpha- and beta-tubulin, it is not a component of microtubules. Rather, it is located at microtubule-organizing centres and may function in the nucleation of microtubule assembly and establishment of microtubule polarity.
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