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Related Experiment Videos

Structural plugs at microtubule ends may regulate polymer dynamics in vitro.

S Azhar1, D B Murphy

  • 1Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Microtubule plugs, structures within microtubules, temporarily stabilize them by slowing disassembly. This may prevent catastrophic loss and contribute to dynamic instability by allowing GTP-tubulin addition.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Microtubules are dynamic polymers essential for cellular processes.
  • Their dynamic behavior, including growth and shrinkage, is crucial for function.
  • Distinct structures, termed plugs, are found within microtubule lumens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the nature and potential function of microtubule plugs.
  • To understand how these plugs influence microtubule dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Electron microscopy was used to observe plugs in microtubules.
  • Microtubule protein preparations containing MAPs were utilized.
  • Depolymerization was induced to study plug frequency changes.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Plugs are stain-occluding structures (10-30 nm) found along and at microtubule ends.
  • Plugs occurred in 20-40% of microtubule ends in preparations with MAPs.
  • Increased plug frequency during depolymerization suggests temporary stabilization.

    • Conclusions:

    • Microtubule plugs may act as temporary stabilizers, preventing catastrophic disassembly.
    • Plugs might facilitate GTP-tubulin subunit addition, forming stabilizing GTP-caps.
    • These plugs could explain the transitions between shortening and growing phases in dynamic instability.