Microtubules: an overview.
Microtubules are found in all eukaryotes and are built from alphabeta-tubulin heterodimers. The alpha-tubulins and beta-tubulins are among the most highly conserved eukaryotic proteins. Other members of the tubulin family have come to light recently and, like gamma-tubulin, appear to play roles in microtubule nucleation and assembly. Microtubule assembly is accompanied by hydrolysis of GTP associated with beta-tubulin so that microtubules consist principally of "GDP-tubulin" stabilized by a short "GTP cap." Microtubules are polar, cylindrical structures some 25 nm in diameter. Protofilaments made from tubulin heterodimers run lengthwise along the microtubule wall with the beta-tubulin subunit at the microtubule plus end. The crystallographic structures of tubulins are essential to understand in detail microtubule architecture and interactions with stabilizing and destabilizing drugs and proteins.
Wade
Richard H
RH
Institut de Biologie Structurale, Grenoble, France.
D000818:Animals; D000077143:Docetaxel; D034261:Epothilones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D043823:Taxoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D034261:Epothilones; D043823:Taxoids; D014404:Tubulin; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D017239:Paclitaxel