Transformation of taxol-stabilized microtubules into inverted tubulin tubules triggered by a tubulin conformation switch
Source abstract
Abstract
Bundles of taxol-stabilized microtubules (MTs)--hollow tubules comprised of assembled αβ-tubulin heterodimers--spontaneously assemble above a critical concentration of tetravalent spermine and are stable over long times at room temperature. Here we report that at concentrations of spermine several-fold higher the MT bundles (B(MT)) quickly become unstable and undergo a shape transformation to bundles of inverted tubulin tubules (B(ITT)), the outside surface of which corresponds to the inner surface of the B(MT) tubules. Using transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering, we quantitatively determined both the nature of the B(MT)-to-B(ITT) transformation pathway, which results from a spermine-triggered conformation switch from straight to curved in the constituent taxol-stabilized tubulin oligomers, and the structure of the B(ITT) phase, which is formed of tubules of helical tubulin oligomers. Inverted tubulin tubules provide a platform for studies requiring exposure and availability of the inside, luminal surface of MTs to MT-targeted drugs and MT-associated proteins.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Microtubule and mitosis dynamics · Bacteriophages and microbial interactions · Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (49)
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