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Related Concept Videos

Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle Assembly

Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a microtubule array...
Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle Assembly

Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a microtubule array...
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:18

Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments

Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.

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Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes
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Published on: December 20, 2014

Self-assembling SAS-6 multimer is a core centriole building block.

Jayachandran Gopalakrishnan1, Paul Guichard, Andrew H Smith

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|January 20, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

SAS-6 protein self-assembly into tetramers forms the central cartwheel structure, a key step in building centrioles (microtubule-based organelles) essential for cell division and cilia.

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Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Centrioles are vital microtubule organelles with 9-fold symmetry, crucial for cilia and mitotic spindle formation.
  • The initial structure in centriole assembly is a cartwheel, but its formation mechanism is unknown.
  • SAS-6 is a conserved protein essential for early centriole assembly and a cartwheel component.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the SAS-6 protein and elucidate its role in cartwheel formation.
  • To understand how SAS-6 self-assembly contributes to the 9-fold symmetry of the cartwheel.
  • To investigate the building blocks of the centriole's central tubule.

Main Methods:

  • Biochemistry and electron microscopy were combined to analyze SAS-6 structure and assembly.
  • SAS-6 oligomerization was studied using recombinant and native proteins.
  • SAS-6 localization and function were examined in Drosophila cells and centrosomes.

Main Results:

  • SAS-6 self-assembles into stable tetramers, acting as building blocks for the central tubule.
  • Electron microscopy revealed 25-nm central tubules with repeating subunits, concentrating SAS-6.
  • Elevated SAS-6 levels led to structures mimicking central tubule morphology.
  • SAS-6 tetramers assembled into high-density complexes in embryonic extract.

Conclusions:

  • SAS-6 tetramer self-assembly is likely the initial step in forming the 9-fold symmetric cartwheel.
  • SAS-6 tetramers are the fundamental building blocks of the centriole's central tubule.
  • These findings provide a basis for in vitro reconstruction of centrioles.