Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Acquisition of High-Quality Digital Video of Drosophila Larval and Adult Behaviors from a Lateral Perspective
07:00

Acquisition of High-Quality Digital Video of Drosophila Larval and Adult Behaviors from a Lateral Perspective

Published on: October 4, 2014

Drosophila stathmin is required to maintain tubulin pools

Georgina Fletcher1, Pernille Rørth

  • 1European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.

Current Biology : CB
|June 9, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Stathmin (Op18) is crucial for maintaining microtubule stability in vivo. This study reveals stathmin’s role in regulating tubulin levels, impacting microtubule dynamics and cell functions.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Stathmin (Oncoprotein 18) regulates microtubule dynamics by sequestering tubulin.
  • Phosphorylation controls stathmin activity, inhibiting tubulin interaction.
  • Drosophila Stathmin shares functional similarities with mammalian counterparts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo function of Drosophila Stathmin in microtubule-dependent processes.
  • To elucidate the role of stathmin in maintaining the microtubule cytoskeleton.
  • To understand the relationship between stathmin, tubulin levels, and microtubule stability.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of stathmin mutant Drosophila.
  • Assessment of microtubule abundance and dynamics.
  • Measurement of total tubulin protein levels.

Main Results:

  • Drosophila Stathmin is essential for oocyte identity and polarity determinant localization.
  • Stathmin deficiency leads to reduced microtubule abundance and slower recovery after cold shock.
  • Mutant animals exhibit decreased total tubulin protein levels; overexpression increases tubulin.

Conclusions:

  • Stathmin plays a critical role in the long-term maintenance of the microtubule cytoskeleton in vivo.
  • Stathmin influences overall tubulin protein levels, potentially through a feedback mechanism.
  • Stathmin may maintain a soluble tubulin pool that prevents autoregulation of tubulin synthesis.

More Related Videos

Using Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction and Muscle Cells to Visualize Microtubule Network08:04

Using Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction and Muscle Cells to Visualize Microtubule Network

Published on: October 20, 2023

Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-511:09

Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-5

Published on: January 20, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated assembly and...
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule Formation

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo continuous assembly and disassembly. They originate from specialized multi-protein complexes known as microtubule organizing centers or MTOCs. Within the MTOC, the point of origin of the microtubule is known as the minus end, while the end radiating outward is the plus end. Microtubules serve two primary functions — the organization of spindle complexes to separate sister chromatids during mitotic or meiotic cell division and the formation of...
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
Anaphase A and B01:39

Anaphase A and B

Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...