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Related Concept Videos

Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

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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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Microtubules01:18

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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.
Microtubules have two structurally similar globular protein subunits: α and β tubulins. In the cytosol, the α and β tubulins form a heterodimer....
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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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Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

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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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Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

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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...
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Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Purification of Tubulin with Controlled Posttranslational Modifications and Isotypes from Limited Sources by Polymerization-Depolymerization Cycles
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The Tubulin Code in Microtubule Dynamics and Information Encoding.

Antonina Roll-Mecak1

  • 1Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Developmental Cell
|July 8, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Microtubules, essential for cell structure, are regulated by a "tubulin code" of protein variations. Understanding this code is key to comprehending cell function and disease.

Keywords:
CCPTTLLdetyrosinationdyneinglutamylationglycylationkinesinmicrotubulemicrotubule associated proteinsmotorsseveringtubulin codetubulin isoformstubulin post-translational modificationstubulin tyrosine ligasetyrosination

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Microtubules form the eukaryotic cytoskeleton, influencing cell structure, dynamics, and mechanics.
  • Tubulin isoforms and post-translational modifications constitute a "tubulin code" that diversifies microtubule arrays.
  • This code is crucial for varied cell types, cell cycle stages, and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a historical overview of tubulin diversity research.
  • To highlight recent advancements in understanding the mechanistic basis of the tubulin code.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on tubulin diversity and the tubulin code.

Main Results:

  • Tubulin diversity, through isoforms and modifications, generates distinct microtubule arrays.
  • The

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the tubulin code is vital for deciphering cellular physiology.
  • Knowledge of the tubulin code is crucial for understanding various diseases.
  • Further research into the tubulin code will illuminate fundamental cellular processes.