scholarly journals Thyroid and brain microtubules: a comparison.

1980 ◽  
Vol 255 (7) ◽  
pp. 3186-3193
Author(s):  
B.C. Berk ◽  
P.M. Hinkle
Keyword(s):  
Brain Microtubules

scholarly journals Influence of the centrosome on the structure of nucleated microtubules.

1985 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 1185-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Evans ◽  
T Mitchison ◽  
M Kirschner
Keyword(s):  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Nucleation Sites ◽  
Self Assembled ◽  
Brain Microtubules

The capacity of the centrosome to influence the lattice structure of nucleated microtubules was studied in vitro. Brain microtubules self-assembled to give predominantly (98%) 14-protofilament microtubules. However, under exactly the same conditions of assembly they grew off of purified centrosomes from neuroblastoma cells to give mostly (82%) 13-protofilament microtubules. Thus, the nucleation sites on the centrosome constrained the microtubule lattice to yield the number of protofilaments usually found in vivo.

scholarly journals Phase dynamics at microtubule ends: the coexistence of microtubule length changes and treadmilling

1987 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 1035-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
KW Farrell ◽  
MA Jordan ◽  
HP Miller ◽  
L Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Length Distribution ◽  
Bovine Brain ◽  
Phase Dynamics ◽  
Protein Map ◽  
Length Changes ◽  
Brain Microtubules ◽  
Inherent Tendency ◽  
In Cells

The length dynamics both of microtubule-associated protein (MAP)-rich and MAP-depleted bovine brain microtubules were examined at polymer mass steady state. In both preparations, the microtubules exhibited length redistributions shortly after polymer mass steady state was attained. With time, however, both populations relaxed to a state in which no further changes in length distributions could be detected. Shearing the microtubules or diluting the microtubule suspensions transiently increased the extent to which microtubule length redistributions occurred, but again the microtubules relaxed to a state in which changes in the polymer length distributions were not detected. Under steady-state conditions of constant polymer mass and stable microtubule length distribution, both MAP-rich and MAP-depleted microtubules exhibited behavior consistent with treadmilling. MAPs strongly suppressed the magnitude of length redistributions and the steady-state treadmilling rates. These data indicate that the inherent tendency of microtubules in vitro is to relax to a steady state in which net changes in the microtubule length distributions are zero. If the basis of the observed length redistributions is the spontaneous loss and regain of GTP-tubulin ("GTP caps") at microtubule ends, then in order to account for stable length distributions the microtubule ends must reside in the capped state far longer than in the uncapped state, and uncapped microtubule ends must be rapidly recapped. The data suggest that microtubules in cells may have an inherent tendency to remain in the polymerized state, and that microtubule disassembly must be induced actively.

Ability to organize microtubules in taxol-treated mitotic PtK2 cells goes with the SPN antigen and not with the centrosome

1992 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kallajoki ◽  
K. Weber ◽  
M. Osborn
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Nuclear Matrix ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Microtubule Nucleation ◽  
Brain Microtubules ◽  
Mitotic Cells

The SPN antigen plays an essential role in mitosis, since microinjection of antibodies causes mitotic arrest. Here we show, by examination of the relative locations of SPN antigen, the centrosomal 5051 antigen and tubulin in normal mitotic, and in taxol-treated mitotic cells, that the SPN antigen is involved in organizing the microtubules of the spindle. The 210 kDa protein defined as SPN antigen relocates from the nuclear matrix to the centrosome at prophase, remains associated with the poles at metaphase and anaphase, and dissociates from the centrosomes in telophase. In taxol-treated mitotic cells, SPN staining shows a striking redistribution while 5051 antigen remains associated with centrosomes. SPN antigen is seen at the plasma membrane end of the rearranged microtubules. SPN antigen is always at the center of the multiple microtubule asters (5 to 20 per cell) induced by taxol, whereas 5051 again remains associated with the centrosomal complex (1 to 2 foci per cell). Microtubule nucleation is associated with the SPN antigen rather than with the 5051 antigen. Microinjection of SPN-3 antibody into taxol-treated mitotic PtK2 cells causes disruption of the asters as judged by tubulin staining of the same cells. Finally, SPN antigen extracted in soluble form from synchronized mitotic HeLa cells binds to, and sediments with, pig brain microtubules stabilized by taxol. This association of SPN antigen with microtubules is partially dissociated by 0.5 M NaCl but not by 5 mM ATP. Thus SPN antigen binds to microtubules in vitro and seems to act as a microtubular minus-end organizer in mitotic cells in vivo.

scholarly journals Proteins from morphologically differentiated neuroblastoma cells promote tubulin polymerization.

1978 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 547-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
N W Seeds ◽  
R B Maccioni
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Gradient Centrifugation ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Tubulin Polymerization ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Neurite Formation ◽  
Brain Microtubules ◽  
Brain Tubulin

Clonal cells (N18) of the mouse neuroblastoma C-1300 can be induced to undergo a morphological differentiation characterized by the outgrowth of very long neurites (> 150 microns) that contain many microtubules. Because the marked increase in the number and length of microtubules is apparently not due to an increase in the concentration of tubulin subunits, the possible role of additional macromolecules in the regulation of tubulin polymerization during neurite formation by N18 cells was examined. Using an in vitro system where the polymerization of low concentrations (< 4 mg/ml) of purified brain tubulin requires microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), high-speed supernates (250,000 g) from neuroblastoma and glioma cells were assayed for their ability to replace MAPs in the polymerization of brain tubulin. Only the supernates from "differentiated" N18 cells were polymerization competent. Electron microscope observations of these supernates failed to demonstrate the presence of nucleation structures (rings or disks). The active factor(s) sedimented at approximately 7S on sucrose gradient centrifugation and eluted from 4B Sepharose in the region of 170,000 mol wt proteins. Furthermore, the inactive supernates from other cells did not inhibit polymerization when tested in the presence of limiting MAPs. Thus, microtubule formation accompanying neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells appears to be regulated by the presence of additional macromolecular factor(s) that may be functionally equivalent to the MAPs found with brain microtubules.

The Presence of an Adenosine-5'-Triphosphatase Dependent on 6S Tubulin and Calcium Ions in Rat Brain Microtubules

1979 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuo IHARA ◽  
Toshihiro FUJII ◽  
Takao ARAI ◽  
Ryo TANAKA ◽  
Yoshito KAZIRO
Keyword(s):  
Rat Brain ◽  
Calcium Ions ◽  
Brain Microtubules

scholarly journals Dynamics of microtubules from erythrocyte marginal bands.

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Trinczek ◽  
A Marx ◽  
E M Mandelkow ◽  
D B Murphy ◽  
E Mandelkow
Keyword(s):  
Phosphate Buffer ◽  
Dynamic Instability ◽  
Critical Concentration ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Tubulin Isoforms ◽  
Marginal Band ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Free Microtubules ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Brain Microtubules

Microtubules can adjust their length by the mechanism of dynamic instability, that is by switching between phases of growth and shrinkage. Thus far this phenomenon has been studied with microtubules that contain several components, that is, a mixture of tubulin isoforms, with or without a mixture of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), which can act as regulators of dynamic instability. Here we concentrate on the influence of the tubulin component. We have studied MAP-free microtubules from the marginal band of avian erythrocytes and compared them with mammalian brain microtubules. The erythrocyte system was selected because it represents a naturally stable aggregate of microtubules; second, the tubulin is largely homogeneous, in contrast to brain tubulin. Qualitatively, erythrocyte microtubules show similar features as brain microtubules, but they were found to be much less dynamic. The critical concentration of elongation, and the rates of association and dissociation of tubulin are all lower than with brain microtubules. Catastrophes are rare, rescues frequent, and shrinkage slow. This means that dynamic instability can be controlled by the tubulin isotype, independently of MAPs. Moreover, the extent of dynamic behavior is highly dependent on buffer conditions. In particular, dynamic instability is strongly enhanced in phosphate buffer, both for erythrocyte marginal band and brain microtubules. The lower stability in phosphate buffer argues against the hypothesis that a cap of tubulin.GDP.Pi subunits stabilizes microtubules. The difference in dynamics between tubulin isotypes and between the two ends of microtubules is preserved in the different buffer systems.

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