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Ciliary microtubule capping structures contain a mammalian kinetochore antigen
J M Miller1, W Wang, R Balczon
1Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045-2106.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Microtubule capping structures in cilia share a protein with kinetochores, suggesting a potential structural and functional link. This finding reveals a conserved mechanism for regulating microtubule plus ends.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy
- Immunology
Background:
- Microtubule dynamics are crucial for cellular processes.
- Specific structures cap microtubule plus ends, regulating assembly and disassembly.
- Kinetochores cap mitotic microtubules, while ciliary/flagellar microtubules have distinct capping structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential homologies between ciliary microtubule caps and kinetochores.
- To identify proteins shared between these microtubule-associated structures.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence microscopy using CREST antisera on isolated Tetrahymena cilia.
- Coomassie blue staining and Western blotting to identify copurifying antigens.
- Affinity purification of antibodies against a 97-kD ciliary protein.
Main Results:
- CREST antisera specifically stained distal tips of cap-containing cilia, not uncapped axonemes.
- A 97-kD antigen was found to copurify with ciliary capping structures.
- Antibodies to the 97-kD protein stained both ciliary caps and kinetochores in multiple cell lines.
Conclusions:
- A polypeptide present in kinetochores is also found in ciliary microtubule capping structures.
- This suggests a structural and/or functional homology between microtubule plus-end capping mechanisms.
- The findings point to conserved roles for specific proteins in microtubule regulation across different cellular contexts.