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MTB-3, a microtubule plus-end tracking protein (+TIP) of Neurospora crassa

Rosa R Mouriño-Pérez1, Lorena P Linacre-Rojas, Ariana I Román-Gavilanes

  • 1Departamento de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, México. rmourino@cicese.mx

Plos One
|August 17, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Neurospora crassa MicroTubule Binding protein-3 (MTB-3), a plus-end tracking protein, is crucial for microtubule dynamics. Deleting MTB-3 slightly impacts growth but significantly alters microtubule organization and dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Microtubules (MTs) are dynamic cytoskeletal polymers essential for cellular processes.
  • +TIPs are proteins that bind to MT plus-ends, regulating MT dynamics and interactions.
  • MTB-3 is the Neurospora crassa homolog of yeast EB1, a conserved +TIP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of MTB-3 in N. crassa.
  • To characterize the dynamic behavior and localization of MTB-3.
  • To determine the role of MTB-3 in microtubule organization and dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Deletion mutagenesis to create Δmtb-3 strains.
  • Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) tagging of MTB-3 to visualize its dynamics.
  • Microscopy to observe MTB-3-GFP localization, movement, and MT cytoskeleton organization.

Main Results:

  • MTB-3-GFP forms comet-like structures moving towards the hyphal apex.
  • MTB-3 dynamics are dependent on MT cytoskeleton integrity but not actin.
  • Absence of MTB-3 leads to fewer, less bundled, and less organized MTs with altered polymerization/depolymerization rates.

Conclusions:

  • MTB-3 plays a significant role in regulating MT dynamics in N. crassa.
  • While Δmtb-3 mutants show minor morphological changes, MT organization and dynamics are profoundly affected.
  • MTB-3 is essential for proper microtubule organization and dynamic instability.

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