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Tubulin cofactor A gene silencing in mammalian cells induces changes in microtubule cytoskeleton, cell cycle arrest and cell death
Author(s) -
Nolasco Sofia,
Bellido Javier,
Gonçalves João,
Zabala Juan Carlos,
Soares Helena
Publication year - 2005
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/j.febslet.2005.05.022
Subject(s) - tubulin , microtubule , microbiology and biotechnology , cell cycle , cell cycle checkpoint , biology , cell , hela , chemistry , biochemistry
Microtubules are polymers of α/β‐tubulin participating in essential cell functions. A multistep process involving distinct molecular chaperones and cofactors produces new tubulin heterodimers competent to polymerise. In vitro cofactor A (TBCA) interacts with β‐tubulin in a quasi‐native state behaving as a molecular chaperone. We have used siRNA to silence TBCA expression in HeLa and MCF‐7 mammalian cell lines. TBCA is essential for cell viability and its knockdown produces a decrease in the amount of soluble tubulin, modifications in microtubules and G1 cell cycle arrest. In MCF‐7 cells, cell death was preceded by a change in cell shape resembling differentiation.