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Related Concept Videos

Microtubules01:18

Microtubules

Microtubules are the thickest cytoskeletal filaments with a diameter of 25 nm. In prokaryotic organisms, microtubules are commonly found in locomotory appendages like cilia and flagella. In eukaryotic cells, microtubules form specialized extensions for moving fluid over the surface, like those found in cells lining the intestine.
Microtubules have two structurally similar globular protein subunits: α and β tubulins. In the cytosol, the α and β tubulins form a heterodimer. These αβ-heterodimers...
Microtubules01:35

Microtubules

There are three types of cytoskeletal structures in eukaryotic cells—microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the thickest of these fibers. Microtubules carry out a variety of functions that include cell structure and support, transport of organelles, cell motility (movement), and the separation of chromosomes during cell division.Microtubules are hollow tubes whose walls are made up of globular tubulin proteins. Each tubulin...
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...
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...
Role of Microtubules in Cell Wall Deposition01:02

Role of Microtubules in Cell Wall Deposition

Microtubules are small hollow tubes in eukaryotic cells. The cell wall microtubules are polymerized dimers of two globular proteins, α-tubulin and β-tubulin, two globular proteins. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the widest components of the cytoskeleton. They help the cell resist compression and provide a track along which vesicles move through the cell or pull replicated chromosomes to opposite ends of a dividing cell. Microtubules go through quick cycles of disassembly and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Optimizing Tubulin Yield from Porcine Brain Tissue
06:30

Optimizing Tubulin Yield from Porcine Brain Tissue

Published on: October 11, 2024

Plasma membrane tubulin.

J Wolff1

  • 1Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. wolffj@mail.nih.gov

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|March 31, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tubulin associates with the plasma membrane through various mechanisms, including direct binding and microtubule interactions. This review critically examines the evidence for these tubulin-membrane links and their functional implications.

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Imaging Plasma Membrane Deformations With pTIRFM
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Purification of Tubulin with Controlled Posttranslational Modifications and Isotypes from Limited Sources by Polymerization-Depolymerization Cycles
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Imaging Plasma Membrane Deformations With pTIRFM
12:28

Imaging Plasma Membrane Deformations With pTIRFM

Published on: April 2, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Tubulin, the main component of microtubules, is traditionally known for its role in intracellular transport and cell structure.
  • Emerging evidence suggests a more direct involvement of tubulin and microtubules at the cell periphery, interacting with the plasma membrane.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for comprehending cellular organization and signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the existing chemical and biochemical evidence for tubulin's association with the plasma membrane.
  • To explore the different modes of tubulin-membrane interaction, from integral proteins to surface binding.
  • To discuss the potential mechanisms by which these associations regulate plasma membrane functions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and critical analysis of published chemical and biochemical studies.
  • Examination of evidence for various tubulin-membrane association types (integral, palmitoylation, surface binding, microtubule linkage).
  • Discussion of proposed molecular mechanisms linking tubulin/microtubules to membrane functions.

Main Results:

  • The evidence for tubulin's direct integration into the plasma membrane bilayer is varied, with some mechanisms better supported than others.
  • Palmitoylation and surface binding represent alternative modes of tubulin association with membrane components.
  • Microtubules can link to the plasma membrane via specific linker proteins, indirectly involving tubulin.

Conclusions:

  • Tubulin exhibits diverse associations with the plasma membrane, ranging from direct to indirect interactions.
  • The functional consequences of these tubulin-membrane associations for cellular processes require further investigation.
  • A comprehensive understanding of tubulin's role at the plasma membrane is essential for cell biology research.