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Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes
09:39

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes

Published on: December 20, 2014

15.8K

A centrosomal protein FOR20 regulates microtubule assembly dynamics and plays a role in cell migration

Shalini Srivastava1, Dulal Panda2

  • 1Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India.

The Biochemical Journal
|July 12, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The centrosomal protein FOR20 regulates microtubule assembly and stability. This protein impacts cell migration by influencing microtubule dynamics, suggesting it

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Background:

  • Microtubules are crucial for cell structure and function.
  • Centrosomal proteins play key roles in microtubule organization.
  • The function of FOR20 (C16orf63) in microtubule regulation was previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the centrosomal protein FOR20 in microtubule assembly, stability, and dynamics.
  • To determine if FOR20 interacts with tubulin and affects microtubule polymerization.
  • To assess the impact of FOR20 on cell migration.

Main Methods:

  • Immunoprecipitation using FOR20 antibodies and GST-tagged FOR20 to detect tubulin interaction.
  • In vitro tubulin assembly assays.
  • Microscopy studies in HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells involving FOR20 overexpression and depletion.
  • Analysis of cell migration rates.

Main Results:

  • FOR20 interacts with tubulin and inhibits microtubule assembly in vitro.
  • FOR20 overexpression leads to microtubule depolymerization, while its depletion prevents it.
  • FOR20 depletion suppresses microtubule dynamics and impairs directed cell migration.

Conclusions:

  • FOR20 is a novel microtubule-associated protein regulating microtubule assembly and dynamics.
  • FOR20 influences cell migration through its effects on the cytoskeleton.
  • This study identifies FOR20 as a key regulator of microtubule function.
Keywords:
cell motilitycentrosomemicrotubule dynamicsmicrotubule-associated proteins

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