title: Microtubule dynamics.
abstract: Although compelling evidence has been obtained for heterogeneity in the structure of subunits in microtubules, it has not been possible to prove that this results from the presence of tubulin-GDP and tubulin-GTP in polymers. There are reasons to exclude the existence of even a monolayer of tubulin-GTP subunits at microtubule ends. Dynamic behavior appears to be best accounted for by a mechanism in which tubulin-GDP in microtubules exists in two conformations. The mechanism of microtubule-associated protein binding to microtubules and the role of phosphorylation on this reaction are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7260.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caplow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate