Huntington's disease gene product, huntingtin, associates with microtubules in vitro

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 30, 2026

Fractionation for Resolution of Soluble and Insoluble Huntingtin Species
07:08

Fractionation for Resolution of Soluble and Insoluble Huntingtin Species

Published on: February 27, 2018

T Tukamoto1, N Nukina, K Ide

  • 1Department of Neurology, Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.

Brain Research. Molecular Brain Research
|January 14, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Huntingtin protein, linked to Huntington's disease, binds to microtubules. This association suggests a potential role for huntingtin in transporting materials within neurons.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder.
  • The disease is caused by a gene producing a large protein called huntingtin.
  • The function of huntingtin protein is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between huntingtin protein and microtubules.
  • To explore the potential role of huntingtin in intracellular transport mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro association assays were performed.
  • Microtubule assembly and disassembly processes were utilized.
  • Tubulin-affinity chromatography was employed to study binding interactions.

Main Results:

  • Huntingtin protein was found to associate with microtubules in vitro.
  • Both wild-type and mutant huntingtin showed similar degrees of association with microtubules.
  • Huntingtin did not directly bind to tubulin but interacted with polymerized tubulin.

Conclusions:

  • Huntingtin protein interacts with polymerized microtubules.
  • This interaction suggests a potential role for huntingtin in intracellular organelle or axonal transport.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise transport functions of huntingtin.

More Related Videos

Efficient and Scalable Production of Full-length Human Huntingtin Variants in Mammalian Cells using a Transient Expression System10:52

Efficient and Scalable Production of Full-length Human Huntingtin Variants in Mammalian Cells using a Transient Expression System

Published on: December 10, 2021

Generation of Native, Untagged Huntingtin Exon1 Monomer and Fibrils Using a SUMO Fusion Strategy11:22

Generation of Native, Untagged Huntingtin Exon1 Monomer and Fibrils Using a SUMO Fusion Strategy

Published on: June 27, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Huntington Disease l: Introduction01:21

Huntington Disease l: Introduction

Huntington disease or HD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.PathophysiologyIt is caused by expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), producing an abnormal huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract. This misfolded protein disrupts cellular function, leading to neuronal death. Normal alleles have ≤26 repeats, 27–35 are intermediate (risk of expansion), 36–39 show reduced penetrance,...
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

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...
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

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.
Microtubules01:18

Microtubules

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. These αβ-heterodimers...
Microtubules01:35

Microtubules

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.Microtubules are hollow tubes whose walls are made up of globular tubulin proteins. Each tubulin...
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...