Influence of the centrosome on the structure of nucleated 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.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008868:Microtubule Proteins; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009940:Organoids / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010053:Ovary
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008868:Microtubule Proteins