[Preparation of highly purified microbules and evidence for a novel molecular arrangement at low temperatures]

Microtubules were prepared by in vitro polymerization-depolymerization cycles, 1.0 M NaCl which totally depolymerizes was then added to the preparation. After removal of NaCl new arrangements of tubulin were observed at 4 degrees C: simple and double rings as well as fibrils. At 37 degrees these structures disappeared and tubulin polymerized into microtubules. The highly microtubules contain tubulin, tubulin associated proteins of 300,000 and 330,000 molecular weight, minor proteins of low molecular weight and proteins similar to the Tau factors. This raises a question of the role played by low molecular weight polypeptides. Are they products of proteolysis of rather factors of polymerisation?