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Related Concept Videos

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins01:32

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins

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Eukaryotic cells have different motor proteins for transporting various cargo within the cell. These motor proteins differ based on the filament they associate with, the direction they move within the cell, and the type of cargo they transport. Motor proteins that associate with microtubules are known as microtubule-associated motor proteins. There are two families of microtubule-associated motor proteins —Kinesins and Dyneins. Both these proteins assist in the transport of cellular...
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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...
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Microtubules are the thickest cytoskeletal filaments with a diameter of 25 nm. In prokaryotic organisms, microtubules are commonly found in locomotory appendages like cilia and flagella. In eukaryotic cells, microtubules form specialized extensions for moving fluid over the surface, like those found in cells lining the intestine.
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Microtubules01:35

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There are three types of cytoskeletal structures in eukaryotic cells—microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the thickest of these fibers. Microtubules carry out a variety of functions that include cell structure and support, transport of organelles, cell motility (movement), and the separation of chromosomes during cell division.
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Microtubule Formation01:23

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Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo continuous assembly and disassembly. They originate from specialized multi-protein complexes known as microtubule organizing centers or MTOCs. Within the MTOC, the point of origin of the microtubule is known as the minus end, while the end radiating outward is the plus end. Microtubules serve two primary functions — the organization of spindle complexes to separate sister chromatids during mitotic or meiotic cell division and the formation...
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Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Purification of Tubulin with Controlled Posttranslational Modifications and Isotypes from Limited Sources by Polymerization-Depolymerization Cycles
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The tubulin code at a glance.

Sudarshan Gadadhar1,2, Satish Bodakuntla1,2, Kathiresan Natarajan1,2

  • 1Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.

Journal of Cell Science
|March 23, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The tubulin code, involving tubulin isotypes and post-translational modifications, creates specialized microtubules. This mechanism regulates the diverse functions of microtubules in eukaryotic cells.

Keywords:
DetyrosinationGlutamylationGlycylationTubulin codeTubulin isotypes

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Microtubules are essential cytoskeletal components in eukaryotic cells, built from alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin heterodimers.
  • Despite a conserved structure, microtubules perform diverse cellular functions.
  • The 'tubulin code' is a regulatory mechanism controlling microtubule specialization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular components of the tubulin code.
  • To discuss how these components generate functionally specialized microtubules.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on tubulin isotypes.
  • Analysis of post-translational modifications of tubulin.
  • Synthesis of data on tubulin code generation.

Main Results:

  • The tubulin code comprises distinct tubulin isotypes and post-translational modifications.
  • These elements act in concert to diversify microtubule functions.
  • Specific combinations of tubulin isotypes and modifications dictate microtubule specialization.

Conclusions:

  • The tubulin code is a critical regulatory system for microtubule function.
  • Understanding the tubulin code is key to deciphering microtubule diversity.
  • This framework aids in comprehending how a uniform structure supports varied cellular roles.