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Modulation of microtubule shape in vitro by high molecular weight microtubule associated proteins MAP1A, MAP1B, and MAP2
Author(s) -
Pedrotti Barbara,
Francolini Maura,
Cotelli Franco,
Islam Khalid
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(96)00308-0
Subject(s) - microtubule , tubulin , microtubule associated protein , glutaraldehyde , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , negative stain , microtubule nucleation , biophysics , in vitro , electron microscope , chemistry , biochemistry , cell , physics , optics , cell cycle , chromatography , centrosome
The effect of microtubule associated proteins on microtubule shape has been investigated in reconstitution experiments using purified tubulin and purified MAP1A, MAP1B, and MAP2. Microtubules assembled in the presence of these MAPs were fixed with 0.1% glutaraldehyde and, after negative staining, were examined by electron microscopy. The results show that MAP1A microtubules were generally short and ‘straight’ while those assembled with MAP1B were longer and ‘bendy’. MAP2 microtubules showed both types of morphologies even though straight microtubules were more abundant. These data suggest that MAPs may modulate not only microtubule dynamics but also microtubule shape which may be important in their spatial distribution and/or role in specific neuronal areas.