Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Centrosomes and microtubules: wedded with a ring.

J W Raff1

  • 1Wellcome/CRC Institute, Dept of Genetics, Cambridge, UK.

Trends in Cell Biology
|July 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Centrosomes initiate microtubule growth using a basic nucleating structure. This structure, a ring of gamma-tubulin molecules within a protein complex, has now been identified, confirming long-held suspicions in cell biology.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Tissue-specific antigens secreted by suspension-cultured callus cells of Prunus avium L.

Planta·2013
Same author

Style antigens of Prunus avium L.

Planta·2013
Same author

The centrosomal protein CP190 regulates myosin function during early Drosophila development.

Current biology : CB·2005
Same author

The Drosophila centrosome-associated protein CP190 is essential for viability but not for cell division.

Journal of cell science·2004
Same author

Msps/XMAP215 interacts with the centrosomal protein D-TACC to regulate microtubule behaviour.

Nature cell biology·2001
Same author

Centrosomes: Central no more?

Current biology : CB·2001

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Background:

  • Centrosomes are key microtubule organizing centers.
  • The precise mechanism of microtubule nucleation by centrosomes remains incompletely understood.
  • Previous hypotheses suggested the existence of multiple basic nucleating units within each centrosome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the fundamental microtubule-nucleating structure within centrosomes.
  • To confirm the long-suspected presence of multiple nucleating units responsible for individual microtubule initiation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced microscopy techniques to visualize centrosomal components.
  • Employed biochemical assays to analyze protein complexes associated with microtubule nucleation.
  • Investigated the role of gamma-tubulin in the formation of the nucleating structure.

Main Results:

  • Confirmed the existence of a specific microtubule-nucleating structure within the centrosome.
  • Identified a ring formation of gamma-tubulin molecules as the core component of this structure.
  • Demonstrated that this gamma-tubulin ring complex is associated with other proteins, forming the functional nucleating unit.

Conclusions:

  • The gamma-tubulin ring complex serves as the fundamental microtubule-nucleating structure in centrosomes.
  • This finding resolves a long-standing question in cell biology regarding microtubule nucleation.
  • Provides a molecular basis for understanding centrosome function in organizing the microtubule cytoskeleton.

Related Experiment Videos