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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Using plusTipTracker Software to Measure Microtubule Dynamics in Xenopus laevis Growth Cones
Published on: September 7, 2014
Microtubule binding proteins CLIP-170, EB1, and p150Glued form distinct plus-end complexes
Lee A Ligon1, Spencer S Shelly, Mariko K Tokito
1Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Microtubule plus-end proteins CLIP-170 and EB1 dynamically track the tips of growing microtubules in vivo. Here we examine the association of these proteins with microtubules in vitro. CLIP-170 binds tubulin dimers and co-assembles into growing microtubules. EB1 binds tubulin dimers more weakly, so no co-assembly is observed. However, EB1 binds to CLIP-170, and forms a co-complex with CLIP-170 and tubulin that is recruited to growing microtubule plus ends. The interaction between CLIP-170 and EB1 is competitively inhibited by the related CAP-Gly protein p150Glued, which also localizes to microtubule plus ends in vivo. Based on these observations, we propose a model in which the formation of distinct plus-end complexes may differentially affect microtubule dynamics in vivo.
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