Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule Formation

5.9K
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...
5.9K
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

1.9K
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.
1.9K
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

5.2K
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...
5.2K
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

2.8K
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...
2.8K
Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)01:42

Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)

4.4K
Microtubule function and architecture are regulated by an array of specialized proteins called microtubule-associated proteins or MAPs. These proteins are widespread across different organisms and have conserved protein motifs, like the multi-TOG domain for tubulin binding found in the CLASP family of MAPs. Some MAPs are lineage-specific based on their conserved domains. Their functions depend upon the cytoskeletal architecture and cell type they are located within. In-plant cells, a specific...
4.4K
Microtubules01:18

Microtubules

7.6K
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....
7.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Structural dissection of the catalytic domain of the serine threonine kinase StkP of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

An atlas of microtubule lattice parameters regulated through ligand binding to the microtubule-stabilizing sites.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Illuminating microtubule functions with small molecules: past, present and future of fluorescent tubulin-binding probes.

RSC chemical biology·2026
Same author

The oncogenic CCDC6-RET fusion protein is a dual ATP- and ADP-dependent kinase.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Synthesis and Early Assessment of Epothilone-Derived Fluorescent Probes for Microtubule Imaging.

ChemMedChem·2026
Same author

PM534, a Novel Colchicine Site Tubulin Inhibitor with Broad-Spectrum and Resistance-Overcoming Antitumor Activity.

Molecular cancer therapeutics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy
08:02

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 3, 2023

1.5K

Alternative Approaches to Understand Microtubule Cap Morphology and Function.

María Ángela Oliva1, Federico Gago2, Shinji Kamimura3

  • 1Unidad de Desarrollo de Fármacos Biológicos, Inmunológicos y Químicos, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.

ACS Omega
|February 6, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Microtubules (MTs), built from tubulin, are vital for cell structure and transport. New research combines structural biology with advanced methods to better understand MT dynamics and the GTP cap.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
12:20

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Published on: March 15, 2014

14.5K
High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast
10:23

High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast

Published on: April 20, 2017

9.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy
08:02

Extracting Modified Microtubules from Mammalian Cells to Study Microtubule-Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 3, 2023

1.5K
Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
12:20

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Published on: March 15, 2014

14.5K
High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast
10:23

High-resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Astral Microtubule Dynamics in Budding Yeast

Published on: April 20, 2017

9.6K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Microtubules (MTs) are crucial cytoskeletal polymers composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers.
  • They perform essential cellular functions including maintaining cell shape, intracellular transport, and cell division.
  • MT dynamics are regulated by GTP binding and hydrolysis, influencing assembly and disassembly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of microtubule (MT) regulation and dynamics.
  • To highlight the limitations of classical structural biology methods for studying MTs.
  • To emphasize the complementary role of time-resolved techniques and computational modeling.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature, including macromolecular crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy.
  • Discussion of time-resolved fiber diffraction and computational modeling approaches.
  • Integration of studies on prokaryotic tubulins.

Main Results:

  • GTP hydrolysis by tubulin creates a GTP cap at the growing MT end, driving structural changes (MT maturation).
  • Classical structural methods lack the temporal resolution needed to fully capture MT dynamics.
  • Advanced techniques offer new insights into MT assembly, dynamics, and the GTP cap.

Conclusions:

  • Combining diverse methodologies provides a more comprehensive understanding of microtubule behavior.
  • Time-resolved studies and computational models are essential complements to static structural data.
  • Further research integrating these approaches can elucidate the intricate mechanisms of MT regulation.