scholarly journals Diffusion rather than intraflagellar transport likely provides most of the tubulin required for axonemal assembly in Chlamydomonas

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (17) ◽  
pp. jcs249805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Craft Van De Weghe ◽  
J. Aaron Harris ◽  
Tomohiro Kubo ◽  
George B. Witman ◽  
Karl F. Lechtreck

ABSTRACTTubulin enters the cilium by diffusion and motor-based intraflagellar transport (IFT). However, the respective contribution of each route in providing tubulin for axonemal assembly remains unknown. Using Chlamydomonas, we attenuated IFT-based tubulin transport of GFP–β-tubulin by altering the IFT74N–IFT81N tubulin-binding module and the C-terminal E-hook of tubulin. E-hook-deficient GFP–β-tubulin was incorporated into the axonemal microtubules, but its transport frequency by IFT was reduced by ∼90% in control cells and essentially abolished when the tubulin-binding site of IFT81 was incapacitated. Despite the strong reduction in IFT, the proportion of E-hook-deficient GFP–β-tubulin in the axoneme was only moderately reduced. In vivo imaging showed more GFP–β-tubulin particles entering cilia by diffusion than by IFT. Extrapolated to endogenous tubulin, the data indicate that diffusion provides most of the tubulin required for axonemal assembly. We propose that IFT of tubulin is nevertheless needed for ciliogenesis, because it augments the tubulin pool supplied to the ciliary tip by diffusion, thus ensuring that free tubulin there is maintained at the critical concentration for plus-end microtubule assembly during rapid ciliary growth.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Aaron Harris ◽  
Julie C. Van De Weghe ◽  
Tomohiro Kubo ◽  
George B. Witman ◽  
Karl F. Lechtreck

AbstractTubulin enters the cilia by diffusion and motor-based intraflagellar transport (IFT). The respective contributions of each route in providing tubulin for axonemal assembly are unknown. To attenuate IFT-based transport, we expressed modified GFP-tubulins in strains possessing IFT81 and IFT74 with altered tubulin binding sites. E-hook deficient GFP-β-tubulin normally incorporated into the axonemal microtubules; its transport frequency was reduced by ~90% in control cells and essentially abolished when expressed in a strain possessing IFT81 with an incapacitated tubulin-binding site. Despite the strong reduction in IFT, the share of E-hook deficient GFP-β-tubulin in the axoneme was only moderately reduced indicating that most axonemal tubulin (~80%) enters cilia by diffusion. While not providing the bulk of axonemal tubulin, we propose that motor-based IFT is nevertheless critical for ciliogenesis because it ensures high concentrations of tubulin near the ciliary tip promoting axonemal elongation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1069-1073
Author(s):  
Zhongping Li ◽  
Lingling Ma ◽  
Chengyong Wu ◽  
Tao Meng ◽  
Lanping Ma ◽  
...  

Background: Drugs that interfere with microtubule dynamics are used widely in cancer chemotherapy. Microtubules are composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers, and the colchicine binding site of tubulin is an important pocket for designing tubulin polymerization inhibitors. We have previously designed and synthesized a series of colchicine binding site inhibitors (CBSIs). However, these compounds showed no anticancer activity in vivo. Then, we have used a deconstruction approach to obtain a new derivative MT189, which showed in vivo anticancer activity. Methods: We crystallized a protein complex including two tubulins, one stathmin-like domain of RB3 and one tubulin tyrosine ligase, and soaked MT189 into the crystals. We collected the diffraction data and determined the tubulin-MT189 structure to 2.8 Å. Results: Here, we report the crystal structure of tubulin complexed with MT189, elucidate how the small-molecular agent binds to tubulin and inhibits microtubule assembly, and explain previous results of the structure-activity-relationship studies. Conclusion: The tubulin-MT189 complex structure reveals the interactions between this agent and tubulin and provides insights into the design of new derivatives targeting the colchicine binding site.


Cell Cycle ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 3387-3396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Begaye ◽  
Shana Trostel ◽  
Zhiming Zhao ◽  
Richard E. Taylor ◽  
David C. Schriemer ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 26-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Aguayo-Ortiz ◽  
Oscar Méndez-Lucio ◽  
Antonio Romo-Mancillas ◽  
Rafael Castillo ◽  
Lilián Yépez-Mulia ◽  
...  

1987 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 2191-2201 ◽  
Author(s):  
D L Gard ◽  
M W Kirschner

We have investigated the differences in microtubule assembly in cytoplasm from Xenopus oocytes and eggs in vitro. Extracts of activated eggs could be prepared that assembled extensive microtubule networks in vitro using Tetrahymena axonemes or mammalian centrosomes as nucleation centers. Assembly occurred predominantly from the plus-end of the microtubule with a rate constant of 2 microns.min-1.microM-1 (57 s-1.microM-1). At the in vivo tubulin concentration, this corresponds to the extraordinarily high rate of 40-50 microns.min-1. Microtubule disassembly rates in these extracts were -4.5 microns.min-1 (128 s-1) at the plus-end and -6.9 microns.min-1 (196 s-1) at the minus-end. The critical concentration for plus-end microtubule assembly was 0.4 microM. These extracts also promoted the plus-end assembly of microtubules from bovine brain tubulin, suggesting the presence of an assembly promoting factor in the egg. In contrast to activated eggs, assembly was never observed in extracts prepared from oocytes, even at tubulin concentrations as high as 20 microM. Addition of oocyte extract to egg extracts or to purified brain tubulin inhibited microtubule assembly. These results suggest that there is a plus-end-specific inhibitor of microtubule assembly in the oocyte and a plus-end-specific promoter of assembly in the eggs. These factors may serve to regulate microtubule assembly during early development in Xenopus.


Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A Fleming ◽  
Leticia R Vega ◽  
Frank Solomon

Abstract Overexpression of the β-tubulin binding protein Rbl2p/cofactor A is lethal in yeast cells expressing a mutant α-tubulin, tub1-724, that produces unstable heterodimer. Here we use RBL2 overexpression to identify mutations in other genes that affect formation or stability of heterodimer. This approach identifies four genes—CIN1, CIN2, CIN4, and PAC2—as affecting heterodimer formation in vivo. The vertebrate homologues of two of these gene products—Cin1p/cofactor D and Pac2p/cofactor E—can catalyze exchange of tubulin polypeptides into preexisting heterodimer in vitro. Previous work suggests that both Cin2p or Cin4p act in concert with Cin1p in yeast, but no role for vertebrate homologues of either has been reported in the in vitro reaction. Results presented here demonstrate that these proteins can promote heterodimer formation in vivo. RBL2 overexpression in cin1 and pac2 mutant cells causes microtubule disassembly and enhanced formation of Rbl2p-β-tubulin complex, as it does in the α-tubulin mutant that produces weakened heterodimer. Significantly, excess Cin1p/cofactor D suppresses the conditional phenotypes of that mutant α-tubulin. Although none of the four genes is essential for viability under normal conditions, they become essential under conditions where the levels of dissociated tubulin polypeptides increase. Therefore, these proteins may provide a salvage pathway for dissociated tubulin heterodimers and so rescue cells from the deleterious effects of free β-tubulin.


Il Farmaco ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 659-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Maccari ◽  
Fabrizio Manetti ◽  
Federico Corelli ◽  
Maurizio Botta

Author(s):  
Keri L. Barrack ◽  
Paul K. Fyfe ◽  
William N. Hunter

Tubulin-binding cofactor A (TBCA) participates in microtubule formation, a key process in eukaryotic biology to create the cytoskeleton. There is little information on how TBCA might interact with β-tubulin en route to microtubule biogenesis. To address this, the protozoanLeishmania majorwas targeted as a model system. The crystal structure of TBCA and comparisons with three orthologous proteins are presented. The presence of conserved features infers that electrostatic interactions that are likely to involve the C-terminal tail of β-tubulin are key to association. This study provides a reagent and template to support further work in this area.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine C. Abruzzi ◽  
Adelle Smith ◽  
William Chen ◽  
Frank Solomon

ABSTRACT Free β-tubulin not in heterodimers with α-tubulin can be toxic, disrupting microtubule assembly and function. We are interested in the mechanisms by which cells protect themselves from free β-tubulin. This study focused specifically on the function of Rbl2p, which, like α-tubulin, can rescue cells from free β-tubulin. In vitro studies of the mammalian homolog of Rbl2p, cofactor A, have suggested that Rbl2p/cofactor A may be involved in tubulin folding. Here we show that Rbl2p becomes essential in cells containing a modest excess of β-tubulin relative to α-tubulin. However, this essential activity of Rbl2p/cofactorA does not depend upon the reactions described by the in vitro assay. Rescue of β-tubulin toxicity requires a minimal but substoichiometric ratio of Rbl2p to β-tubulin. The data suggest that Rbl2p binds transiently to free β-tubulin, which then passes into an aggregated form that is not toxic.


1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2349-2360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia R. Vega ◽  
James Fleming ◽  
Frank Solomon

Many effectors of microtubule assembly in vitro enhance the polymerization of subunits. However, several Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes that affect cellular microtubule-dependent processes appear to act at other steps in assembly and to affect polymerization only indirectly. Here we use a mutant α-tubulin to probe cellular regulation of microtubule assembly.tub1-724 mutant cells arrest at low temperature with no assembled microtubules. The results of several assays reported here demonstrate that the heterodimer formed between Tub1-724p and β-tubulin is less stable than wild-type heterodimer. The unstable heterodimer explains several conditional phenotypes conferred by the mutation. These include the lethality of tub1-724haploid cells when the β-tubulin–binding protein Rbl2p is either overexpressed or absent. It also explains why theTUB1/tub1-724 heterozygotes are cold sensitive for growth and why overexpression of Rbl2p rescues that conditional lethality. Both haploid and heterozygous tub1-724 cells are inviable when another microtubule effector, PAC2, is overexpressed. These effects are explained by the ability of Pac2p to bind α-tubulin, a complex we demonstrate directly. The results suggest that tubulin-binding proteins can participate in equilibria between the heterodimer and its components.


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