Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

2.9K
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.9K
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

4.4K
Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
4.4K
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

3.9K
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...
3.9K
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

6.5K
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...
6.5K
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

6.3K
6.3K
Anaphase A and B01:39

Anaphase A and B

5.8K
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...
5.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Agrin gene expression in mouse somatosensory cortical neurons during development in vivo and in cell culture.

Neuroscience·1997
Same author

The prostacyclin analogue carbacyclin inhibits Ca(2+)-activated K+ current in aortic baroreceptor neurones of rats.

The Journal of physiology·1997
Same author

Characterization of the pathogenic KU-SHIV model of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in macaques.

AIDS research and human retroviruses·1997
Same author

A recombinant adenovirus expressing p27Kip1 induces cell cycle arrest and loss of cyclin-Cdk activity in human breast cancer cells.

Oncogene·1997
Same author

A cell-free stock of simian-human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS in pig-tailed macaques has a limited number of amino acid substitutions in both SIVmac and HIV-1 regions of the genome and has offered cytotropism.

Virology·1997
Same author

Animal model of mucosally transmitted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 disease: intravaginal and oral deposition of simian/human immunodeficiency virus in macaques results in systemic infection, elimination of CD4+ T cells, and AIDS.

Journal of virology·1997
Same journal

Engineered HSP90-MP65 Bivalent Fusion Antigen: A Novel Vaccine Candidate Against Invasive Candidiasis.

Proteins·2026
Same journal

Physics-Based Energy Functions for Computational Protein Design.

Proteins·2026
Same journal

Impact of Stabilizing Osmolytes on the Conformational Dynamics of Human and Rat Islet Amyloid Polypeptides.

Proteins·2026
Same journal

Stabilization of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 at Physiological pH: Contrasting Roles of CHAPS and Arginine in Aggregation Inhibition.

Proteins·2026
Same journal

Structural Insights Into the Function of Leishmania major Adenylosuccinate Lyase.

Proteins·2026
Same journal

Generalizing the Gaussian Network Model: Spanning-Tree Thermodynamics Shows Entropy-Driven KRAS Activation.

Proteins·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
12:20

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Published on: March 15, 2014

15.1K

Microtubules dual chemo and thermo-responsive depolymerization.

Z Li1, L Alisaraie

  • 1School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 300 Prince Philip Dr, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3V6, Canada.

Proteins
|March 6, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Both low temperature (277 K) and vinblastine destabilize alpha-beta tubulin heterodimers by weakening interactions. This conformational change impacts microtubule assembly and depolymerization.

Keywords:
cancer therapydepolymerizationmicrotubules assemblymolecular dynamics simulationstructural proteintemperaturetubulin heterodimervinblastine

More Related Videos

Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins
08:13

Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins

Published on: November 30, 2021

2.9K
Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy
08:02

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 3, 2023

2.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
12:20

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Published on: March 15, 2014

15.1K
Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins
08:13

Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins

Published on: November 30, 2021

2.9K
Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy
08:02

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 3, 2023

2.0K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Structural Biology
  • Computational Biophysics

Background:

  • Alpha-beta tubulin heterodimers form microtubules, essential for cell structure and division.
  • Vinblastine is an anti-mitotic agent affecting microtubule dynamics.
  • Temperature influences protein structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural effects of vinblastine and low temperature (277 K) on alpha-beta tubulin heterodimers.
  • To compare the destabilizing mechanisms of vinblastine and low temperature.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
  • The apo tubulin structure at 300 K served as a control.

Main Results:

  • Both vinblastine and low temperature induced conformational changes, destabilizing the alpha-beta tubulin heterodimer.
  • Weakened longitudinal interactions and increased electrostatic repulsion at subunit interfaces were observed.
  • Alterations in secondary structures (H1-S2 loop, H3, H10 helices, T7 loop) crucial for microtubule assembly were identified.

Conclusions:

  • Vinblastine and low temperature independently destabilize alpha-beta tubulin heterodimers.
  • These structural changes affect key functional segments involved in microtubule dynamics and depolymerization.