The functional significance of microtubule quaternary structure

微管四级结构的功能意义

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-03791
• 负责人: Brouhard, Gary
• 金额: $ 2.55万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=587416
• 关键词: functional; significance; microtubule; quaternary; structure

Microtubules (MTs) are long, slender polymers of α-β tubulin dimers that form the mitotic spindle, axonemes, and the cytoskeleton. Tubulin subunits associate head-to-tail to form protofilaments (pfs), and typically 13 pfs are associated laterally to form the MT. MTs are "plastic" polymers, which is to say that tubulin can form structures that differ in their lateral and longitudinal curvature. This plasticity is made possible by flexibility in the links between tubulin dimers and may give microtubules their unique mechanical properties. Structural plasticity creates a challenge for cells, however, in terms of controlling the quaternary structure of the microtubule lattice.

微管 (MT) 是细长的 α-β 微管蛋白二聚体聚合物，形成有丝分裂纺锤体、轴丝和细胞骨架。微管蛋白亚基头尾相连形成原丝 (pfs)，通常 13 个 pfs 横向相连形成 MT。 MT 是“塑料”聚合物，也就是说微管蛋白可以形成横向和纵向曲率不同的结构。这种可塑性是通过微管蛋白二聚体之间连接的灵活性而实现的，并且可能赋予微管独特的机械性能。然而，在控制微管晶格的四级结构方面，结构可塑性给细胞带来了挑战。