title: Secondary structure analysis of tubulin and microtubules with Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: Raman spectroscopy is used to study the secondary structure of tubulin in the assembled and the dissociated states from the analysis of the amide-I band. Essentially two states are recognized: the GTP- and the GDP-bound state, differing in alpha-helix and antiparallel beta-sheet content. Microtubules give a spectrum which is very similar to the GDP-bound state. MAPs and temperature have minor effects, while increasing the pH up to 8 causes a reduction in alpha-helix content and a increase in antiparallel beta-sheet. The binding of demecolcine also induces structural changes which are similar to the GDP-bound state.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical and Biological Dynamics, University of Leuven, Belgium
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Audenaert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heremans
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heremans
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Engelborghs
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides; D000818:Animals; D003703:Demecolcine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011108:Polymers; D011485:Protein Binding; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature; D014404:Tubulin / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D014404:Tubulin; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate; D003703:Demecolcine