Microtubules and Microtubule-Associated Proteins

Microtubules act as "railways" for motor-driven intracellular transport, interact with accessory proteins to assemble into larger structures such as the mitotic spindle, and provide an organizational framework to the rest of the cell. Key to these functions is the fact that microtubules ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology Vol. 10; no. 6
Main Authors: Goodson, Holly V, Jonasson, Erin M
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.06.2018
Subjects:
Animals
Microtubule-Associated Proteins - chemistry
Microtubule-Associated Proteins - physiology
Microtubules - chemistry
Microtubules - physiology
Mitosis - physiology
Models, Molecular
Protein Conformation
ISSN:1943-0264, 1943-0264
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Microtubules act as "railways" for motor-driven intracellular transport, interact with accessory proteins to assemble into larger structures such as the mitotic spindle, and provide an organizational framework to the rest of the cell. Key to these functions is the fact that microtubules are "dynamic." As with actin, the polymer dynamics are driven by nucleotide hydrolysis and influenced by a host of specialized regulatory proteins, including microtubule-associated proteins. However, microtubule turnover involves a surprising behavior-termed dynamic instability-in which individual polymers switch stochastically between growth and depolymerization. Dynamic instability allows microtubules to explore intracellular space and remodel in response to intracellular and extracellular cues. Here, we review how such instability is central to the assembly of many microtubule-based structures and to the robust functioning of the microtubule cytoskeleton.
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ISSN:1943-0264
1943-0264
DOI:10.1101/cshperspect.a022608