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Related Concept Videos

Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule Formation

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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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Microtubule Instability02:17

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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

Microtubules

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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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Spindle Assembly02:50

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Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
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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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Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues
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γ-Tubulin in microtubule nucleation and beyond.

Vadym Sulimenko1, Eduarda Dráberová1, Pavel Dráber1

  • 1Laboratory of Biology of Cytoskeleton, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia.

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|September 26, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gamma-tubulin (γ-tubulin) is crucial for initiating microtubule formation. Recent research reveals new insights into the structure and function of the gamma-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC), enhancing our understanding of microtubule nucleation.

Keywords:
microtubule nucleationαβ-tubulin dimerγ-tubulin functionsγ-tubulin isotypesγ-tubulin ring complexes (γ-TuRC)

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cytoskeletal Dynamics
  • Molecular Mechanisms

Background:

  • Microtubules, polymers of αβ-tubulin, are vital for cell division, transport, and migration.
  • Gamma-tubulin (γ-tubulin) is essential for initiating microtubule nucleation.
  • The γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) is the primary structure that templates microtubule formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) structure, activation, and centrosomal recruitment.
  • To provide mechanistic insights into microtubule nucleation.
  • To discuss emerging, less understood functions of γ-tubulin.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent structural and functional studies on γ-TuRC.
  • Analysis of data on centrosomal recruitment and activation mechanisms.
  • Synthesis of evidence for novel γ-tubulin functions.

Main Results:

  • New mechanistic insights into the molecular basis of microtubule nucleation.
  • Detailed understanding of γ-TuRC structure, activation, and recruitment.
  • Evidence supporting additional roles for γ-tubulin beyond nucleation.

Conclusions:

  • Recent advances have significantly clarified the role of γ-TuRC in microtubule nucleation.
  • γ-tubulin exhibits diverse functions, including potential roles in nuclear processes and cytoskeletal cross-talk.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the non-canonical functions of γ-tubulin.