title: Analysis of microtubule polymerization dynamics in live cells.
abstract: The spatiotemporal regulation of intracellular microtubule polymerization dynamics, by numerous microtubule-associated proteins and other mechanisms, is central to many cell processes. Here, we give an overview and practical guide on how to acquire and analyze time-lapse sequences of dynamic microtubules in live cells by either fluorescently labeling entire microtubules or by utilizing proteins that specifically associate only with growing microtubule ends and summarize the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. We give practical recommendations for imaging conditions, and discuss important limitations of such analysis that are dictated by the maximum achievable spatial and temporal sampling frequencies.
authors: Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0512, USA.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Gierke
authors: Praveen
authors: P
authors: Kumar
authors: Torsten
authors: T
authors: Wittmann
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000502:physiology*