title: Gamma-tubulin complexes: size does matter.
abstract: gamma-Tubulin is a conserved component of all microtubule-organizing centres and is required for these organelles to nucleate microtubule polymerization. However, the mechanism of nucleation is not known. In addition to its localization to organizing centres, a large pool of gamma-tubulin exists in the cytoplasm in a complex with other proteins. The size of the gamma-tubulin complex and number of associated proteins vary among organisms, and the functional significance of these differences is unknown. Recently, the nature of these gamma-tubulin complexes has been explored in different organisms, and this has led us closer to a molecular understanding of microtubule nucleation.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stearns
mesh_terms: D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018385:Centrosome / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009024:Morphogenesis; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D014404:Tubulin