Nucleotide release from tubulin and nucleoside-5'-diphosphate kinase action in microtubule assembly

ATP and UTP support microtubule assembly through the action of brain nucleoside-5'-diphosphate kinase on GDP. Penningroth and Kirschner (1977) J. Mol. Biol. 115, 643-673) have proposed that microtubule assembly may occur by either of two mechanisms: indirectly, through nucleoside-5'-diphosphate kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of uncomplexed GDP and directly by nucleoside-5'-diphosphate kinase-mediated transphosphorylation of tubulin-bound GDP at low tubulin concentrations. We find the rates of GDP and GTP release (0.68 and 0.32 min-1, respectively) are sufficiently fast relative to assembly to permit GDP release, phosphorylation, and GTP binding as the sole mechanism of nucleoside-5'-diphosphate kinase action in microtubule assembly. Computer simulation studies accord with the conclusion that GDP release is rapid relative to microtubule assembly. The specific activity of the nucleoside-5'-diphosphate kinase is 1.7 nmol/min/mg of microtubular protein under the conditions studied. Pulse-chase experiments with tubulin . [14C]GDP complex and the rapidity of GDP phosphorylation by the kinase are in agreement with this scheme. Finally, it was observed that the extent and rate of microtubule assembly depends upon the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio.