Kainate reversibly aggregates brain tubulin in vitro.
The effect of kainate, an heterocyclic analogue of glutamate on tubulin polymerization was studied. We demonstrate that kainate induces a dose-dependent aggregation of rat brain tubulin either purified by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 or in the presence of MAPs into a mesh-like structure. Such polymer is cold-, CaCl2- and colchicine-insensitive. Removal of kainate from the incubation medium yields free tubulin competent for polymerizing into normal microtubules in the presence of GTP.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000378:metabolism; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011485:Protein Binding; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014316:Tritium; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D014404:Tubulin; D014316:Tritium; D007608:Kainic Acid; D003078:Colchicine