title: Microtubules and maps.
abstract: Microtubules are very dynamic polymers whose assembly and disassembly is determined by whether their heterodimeric tubulin subunits are in a straight or curved conformation. Curvature is introduced by bending at the interfaces between monomers. Assembly and disassembly are primarily controlled by the hydrolysis of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in a site that is completed by the association of two heterodimers. However, a multitude of associated proteins are able to fine-tune these dynamics so that microtubules are assembled and disassembled where and when they are required by the cell. We review the recent progress that has been made in obtaining a glimpse of the structural interactions involved.
authors.affiliation: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Amos
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlieper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate