Characterization and Reconstitution of Microtubule Assemblies by in vitro and in vivo Methods

当细胞分裂时，染色体形式的DNA被拉入两个新的子细胞。这种机器施加分离染色体所需的力，是由微小的柔性管组成的，我们称之为微管。在细胞分裂过程中，微管必须迅速而精确地形成和生长。它们必须非常稳定，同时又非常有活力，并不断得到补充。为了制造这些微管，帮助它们生长，稳定它们，并最终再次将它们分解，细胞使用了一群叫做MAPs（微管相关蛋白）的蛋白质。虽然我们知道一些map，但大多数这些蛋白质仍然没有很好地表征或完全未知。我将确定新的MAPs，并确定MAPs如何准确地与微管相互作用。我将揭示这些蛋白质是否帮助微管形成，生长，收缩或帮助微管形成细胞分裂机制所需的任何其他特性。在未来，我想了解机器如此之好，我将能够重建它的零件在试管和显微镜下观察它。了解map和微管将有助于我们理解细胞是如何分裂的。细胞分裂错误会导致疾病，比如癌症。因此，对驱动细胞分裂的机器的全面了解将是非常有用的。我的工作也将增加关于map如何工作的知识，并帮助我们更好地了解这些蛋白质。map和微管不仅参与细胞分裂。这些分子在每个细胞中都扮演着重要的角色，从小的面包酵母到人类脑细胞。

When cells divide, the DNA in form of chromosomes is pulled into the two new daughter cells. The machinery that exerts the force necessary for separating the chromosomes and is made out of tiny flexible tubes, which we call microtubules.Microtubules have to form and grow very quickly and precisely during cell division. They have to be very stable and very dynamic at the same time and constantly be replenished.To make these microtubules, help them grow, stabilize them and ultimately break them apart again, cells use an army of proteins, called MAPs (microtubule-associated proteins).While we know some MAPs, the large majority of these proteins is still not well characterized or completely unknown.I will identify new MAPs and determine how exactly MAPs interact with microtubules. I will uncover if these proteins help microtubules to form, grow, shrink or assist in any of the other properties that microtubules need to form the cell division machinery.In the future, I would like to understand the machinery so well, that I will be able to re-build it from its parts in a test tube and observe it under a microscope.Learning about MAPs and microtubules will help us understand how cells divide. Errors in cell division can result in diseases, for example cancer. Therefore, a complete understanding of the machine that drives cell division will be immensely useful.My work will also increase the knowledge about how MAPs work and help us to understand these proteins better. MAPs and microtubules are not only involved in cell division. These molecules play many important roles in every cell from the small baker's yeast to human brain cells.