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Related Concept Videos

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.
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...
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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons
11:48

Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons

Published on: July 13, 2011

Microtubule dynamics in dendritic spines.

Lukas C Kapitein1, Kah Wai Yau, Casper C Hoogenraad

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Methods in Cell Biology
|August 20, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Dynamic microtubules regulate dendritic spine morphology, impacting synaptic plasticity and potentially learning and memory. This study details methods for visualizing these dynamic microtubules in mature hippocampal neurons.

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Dendritic Spine Quantification Using an Automatic Three-Dimensional Neuron Reconstruction Software
07:45

Dendritic Spine Quantification Using an Automatic Three-Dimensional Neuron Reconstruction Software

Published on: September 27, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons
11:48

Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons

Published on: July 13, 2011

Dendritic Spine Quantification Using an Automatic Three-Dimensional Neuron Reconstruction Software
07:45

Dendritic Spine Quantification Using an Automatic Three-Dimensional Neuron Reconstruction Software

Published on: September 27, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Neuronal microtubules are increasingly recognized as key regulators of dendritic spines, critical sites for excitatory synaptic input.
  • Dendritic spine morphology is intrinsically linked to synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dynamic behavior of microtubules within dendritic spines of mature hippocampal neurons.
  • To provide detailed methodologies for live imaging of dynamic microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins in neuronal cultures.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized fluorescently tagged tubulin and microtubule plus-end binding (EB) protein EB3 for imaging.
  • Employed live imaging techniques, including total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and spinning disk confocal microscopy.
  • Developed protocols for culturing and transfecting mature primary hippocampal neurons.

Main Results:

  • Observed dynamic microtubules regularly departing from the dendritic shaft and entering dendritic spines.
  • Demonstrated that microtubule invasion into spines influences spine actin dynamics.
  • Showed that microtubule invasions induce transient morphological changes in spines, including protrusion and growth.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic microtubules play a significant role in regulating dendritic spine morphology and function.
  • Microtubule dynamics in spines may be involved in adaptive processes within the adult brain.
  • The presented methods facilitate further research into the role of microtubules in neuronal plasticity.