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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

High-resolution Time-lapse Imaging and Automated Analysis of Microtubule Dynamics in Living Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Published on: August 13, 2016
APC nuclear membrane association and microtubule polarity
Ludovic Collin1, Karni Schlessinger, Alan Hall
1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, Cancer Research UK Oncogene and Signal Transduction Group and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Background Information:
Directional cell migration is a fundamental feature of embryonic development, the inflammatory response and the metastatic spread of cancer. Migrating cells have a polarized morphology with an asymmetric distribution of signalling molecules and of the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. The dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton provides the major driving force for migration in all mammalian cell types, but microtubules also play an important role in many cells, most notably neuronal precursors.
Results:
We previously showed, using primary fibroblasts and astrocytes in in vitro scratch-induced migration assays, that the accumulation of APC (adenomatous polyposis coli; the APC tumour suppressor protein) at microtubule plus-ends promotes their association with the plasma membrane at the leading edge. This is required for polarization of the microtubule cytoskeleton during directional migration. Here, we have examined the organization of microtubules in the soma of migrating neurons and fibroblasts.
Conclusions:
We find that APC, through a direct interaction with the NPC (nuclear pore complex) protein Nup153 (nucleoporin 153), promotes the association of microtubules with the nuclear membrane.
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