Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
07:21
Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues
Published on: November 17, 2023
2.6K
Stabilization of microtubules by cevipabulin
Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin1, Arif Md Rashedul Kabir2, Akihiko Konagaya3
1Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Hokkaido, Japan.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|June 30, 2019
Summary
Cevipabulin stabilizes microtubules, offering greater flexibility and faster movement than paclitaxel. This discovery expands microtubule applications in nanotechnology by providing new mechanical and dynamic properties.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Microtubules are essential cytoskeletal components involved in intracellular transport.
- Paclitaxel is a widely used microtubule-stabilizing agent, but its properties may limit certain applications.
- Novel microtubule-stabilizing agents are needed to expand their utility in diverse fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of cevipabulin as a microtubule-stabilizing agent.
- To compare the mechanical and dynamic properties of cevipabulin-stabilized microtubules with those stabilized by paclitaxel.
- To explore the potential applications of cevipabulin-stabilized microtubules in nanotechnology.
Main Methods:
- In vitro gliding assay to assess microtubule movement driven by kinesins.
- Characterization of mechanical properties (flexibility) of stabilized microtubules.
- Comparison of microtubule velocity under different stabilization conditions.
Main Results:
- Cevipabulin effectively stabilizes microtubules.
- Cevipabulin-stabilized microtubules exhibit greater flexibility compared to paclitaxel-stabilized microtubules.
- Cevipabulin-stabilized microtubules show significantly higher velocity in kinesin-driven gliding assays than paclitaxel-stabilized microtubules.
Conclusions:
- Cevipabulin serves as a valuable microtubule-stabilizing agent with distinct properties.
- The unique mechanical and dynamic characteristics of cevipabulin-stabilized microtubules offer new possibilities for nanotechnology applications.
- This study expands the toolkit of microtubule-based materials for advanced applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
2.6K
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...
2.6K
01:35Microtubules
98.2K
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.
98.2K
01:18Microtubules
10.4K
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.
Microtubules have two structurally similar globular protein subunits: α and β tubulins. In the cytosol, the α and β tubulins form a heterodimer....
Microtubules have two structurally similar globular protein subunits: α and β tubulins. In the cytosol, the α and β tubulins form a heterodimer....
10.4K
03:18Nuclear Stability
23.0K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
To hold positively charged protons together...
23.0K
01:53RNA Stability
35.6K
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
35.6K
02:17Microtubule Instability
6.1K
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...
6.1K