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Do prokaryotes contain microtubules?

D Bermudes1, G Hinkle, L Margulis

  • 1Infectious Diseases Section, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.

Microbiological Reviews
|September 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Microtubule-like structures are found in bacteria, though their composition and function differ from eukaryotic microtubules. The bacterial FtsZ protein shows similarities to tubulin, suggesting a potential evolutionary origin.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Eukaryotic microtubules, composed of tubulin, are vital for cell functions like motility and chromosome movement.
  • Prokaryotes, including bacteria and archaea, exhibit microtubule-like structures, but their homology to eukaryotic counterparts is unestablished.
  • Some prokaryotes are sensitive to microtubule-inhibiting drugs, hinting at conserved cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the distribution of cytoplasmic tubules in prokaryotes.
  • To explore potential cytoskeletal functions of these prokaryotic structures.
  • To investigate the relationship between bacterial FtsZ protein and eukaryotic tubulin.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on prokaryotic cytoplasmic tubules.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline ExobiologyNon-NASA Center

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparative analysis of structural and biochemical properties.
  • Examination of FtsZ protein's characteristics in Escherichia coli.

    • Main Results:

    • Prokaryotic microtubule-like structures vary in composition and function among species and differ from eukaryotes.
    • These structures are often found in large, motile prokaryotic cells, suggesting cytoskeletal roles.
    • The bacterial FtsZ protein shares a conserved motif and GTPase activity with tubulin.

    Conclusions:

    • Prokaryotic microtubule-like structures likely serve cytoskeletal functions, analogous to eukaryotic microtubules.
    • The FtsZ protein represents a potential evolutionary precursor to eukaryotic tubulin.
    • Further biochemical and molecular studies are needed to fully understand prokaryotic tubulin homologs.