Disassembly and reconstitution of a membrane-microtubule complex.
The cell membrane of the unicellular algae Distigma proteus is associated with arrays of parallel microtubules. Fragments of the membrane-microtubule complex have been isolated and partially purified. The microtubules were stable in vitro at room temperature as well as at 0 degree C, but were specifically and rapidly disassembled by Ca2+. After removal of all endogenous microtubules, the membrane-microtubule complex could be reassembled from brain microtubule protein and denuded Distigma membrane fragments. The readded microtubules bound in a fixed orientation, and only to those regions of membrane that are normally associated with microtubules in vivo.
D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013696:Temperature
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D002118:Calcium