Articles tagged with Microtubules
Apusomonads display a clear avoidance response to blue light by asymmetrizing their posterior flagellum and contracting their cell body. This primitive mechanism provides clues to the evolution of high-speed flagellar movements in opisthokonts.
For the first time, researchers have directly visualized how newly formed cellular organelles leave the endoplasmic reticulum and transition onto microtubule tracks inside living cells. The study reveals that the ER plays an active role in steering intracellular traffic.
Researchers discovered that cytoplasmic compartmentalization was inherently unstable in large vertebrate embryos, but found strategies to overcome this instability. The timing of cell divisions was precisely matched with the timescale of instability, allowing for robust embryonic organization.
Researchers have discovered a key protein structure in the germ cells of male mice that causes deformations in sperm flagellum leading to infertility. The study used ultrastructure expansion microscopy to visualize the centriole, a tiny cylindrical structure critical for sperm movement.
A new study reveals that ancient microbes like Asgard archaea may have played a crucial role in the evolution of the cytoskeleton. The researchers discovered two proteins, FtsZ1 and FtsZ2, which behave differently and may represent an intermediate stage in the development of modern cytoskeletal networks.
Researchers used NSF-funded Frontera supercomputer to model microtubule tips, revealing new behavior and key differences in structures depending on GTP or GDP binding. This basic research could aid in understanding neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well as design cancer drugs.
Researchers have found a previously unknown group of microbes, known as Asgard archaea, which possess structures similar to those found in eukaryotic cells. These discoveries suggest that Asgard archaea may be the missing link between archaea and eukaryotes, challenging our current understanding of the three domains of life.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have made a breakthrough in understanding the role of protein tau in Alzheimer's disease. By identifying specific amino acid modifications that occur before thread-like fibrils form, scientists hope to develop complementary drugs to combat the disease.
Researchers at HKUMed have discovered how chemotherapeutic agents interact with microtubules to enhance cancer treatment. The study sheds light on the complex interplay between taxanes and microtubule acetylation.
Researchers at KAIST developed CamBio, a biotemplating method utilizing specific intracellular proteins to create functional nanostructures with high tunability. The method enables the selective synthesis of nanostructures from biological samples, showing improved performance in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate detection.
Researchers have developed a laboratory system that can precisely control and study cell division mechanisms in real-time. By manipulating the phosphorylation state of the protein PRC1, they discovered that large-scale transitions in cytoskeleton organization can be induced in just a few minutes.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how cells generate microtubules, the scaffold structures that help maintain cell shape and facilitate division. The study found that CDK5RAP2 activates the γ-tubulin ring complex, enabling efficient microtubule nucleation.
A study by Wellesley College researchers found that anesthesia affects microtubules in neurons, leading to a longer recovery time under anesthesia. This discovery supports the idea that consciousness is related to quantum mechanics and could have significant implications for our understanding of brain function and behavior.
Researchers at OIST have discovered a novel treatment that effectively reverses the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in mice. The treatment, PHDP5, targets the dynamin-microtubule interaction and restores communication between neurons inside synapses.
The study investigates the anticancer potential of CLK kinase inhibitors 1C8 and GPS167, which inhibit CLOCK kinases and affect cancer cell proliferation. The compounds also alter the expression and alternative splicing of transcripts involved in EMT and antiviral immune response.
Egg cells generate internal fluid flows to transport nutrients, but how these flows arise has been a mystery. Researchers used computational models and experiments to understand the mechanics of twister-like fluid flows, revealing their origin from microtubules and molecular motors.
Researchers developed a high-speed modulation system combining digital display with super-resolution imaging, significantly improving lateral and axial resolution. This enables detailed study of subcellular structures in animal cells and plant ultrastructures, paving the way for future biological discoveries.
For the first time, scientists have visualized the process of microtubule formation in human cells at an atomic scale. The study reveals how microtubules are triggered to form during cell division, providing new insights into their role in cellular biology and potential therapeutic applications.
Scientists have imaged microtubule formation in unprecedented detail, revealing a complex process that involves the gamma-tubulin ring complex and a newly-discovered latch mechanism. The findings hold promise for developing targeted therapies for various diseases, including cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Princeton researchers create a system to control the growth of microtubule branches, enabling precise chemical transport and potential applications in soft robotics, new medicines, and biomolecular transport. The technique harnesses cellular scaffolding to build novel materials and technologies.
A recent study reveals that CAMSAP1 plays a crucial role in regulating the structure and dynamics of manchette microtubule minus-ends, impacting male fertility during spermiogenesis. The absence of CAMSAP1 leads to abnormal sperm development, including reduced sperm quantity, decreased motility, and male infertility.
New study reveals that microtubule poisons effectively treat cancer by causing abnormal cell division, leading to tumor cell death. The findings contradict decades-long assumptions about the mechanism of action of these drugs.
Repeated traumatic brain injury contributes to Alzheimer's disease by promoting de novo tau pathogenesis and facilitating pathological tau transmission in mouse models. Axonal microtubule disruption is a key molecular mechanism underlying rTBI-induced protein pathogenesis.
A UNIGE team has identified a new mechanism governing microtubule growth, involving two proteins that form a liquid-liquid phase separation at the tip of the microtubule. This discovery opens up unprecedented prospects for developing new treatments that can act at the heart of cells.
Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation have discovered how proteins work together to regulate treadmilling, a critical mechanism in cell division. The discovery highlights the importance of protein KIF2A and its role in maintaining tension between chromosomes during cell division.
A Northwestern University study reveals how the NEK1 gene mutation affects neurons, causing instability in microtubules and disrupting nuclear import. This discovery suggests anti-cancer drugs could be used to treat ALS by stabilizing microtubules.
Scientists have developed a method to engineer tubulins with precise post-translational modifications, revealing a new interplay between polyglutamylation and detyrosination. This breakthrough uncovers the tubulin code's connection to microtubule function and its regulation in cells.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researcher Scott Forth is investigating the mechanical code underlying mitosis to combat cancer. His lab aims to determine how chromosomes are segregated during cell division, with potential insights into new diagnostics and treatments.
Researchers used cryo-electron tomography to study the dynein motor protein, revealing new details about how it generates force and coordinates with other proteins. This knowledge may help develop treatments for diseases related to cilia dysfunction, such as fertility issues and lung disease.
Researchers investigate the γ-TuRC complex, a key player in microtubule formation and stabilization. The study reveals that γ-TuRC can cap microtubules independently of nucleation, contributing to their formation outside of centrosomes during mitosis.
Scientists discovered the molecular basis of CAMSAP3's role in stabilizing microtubules, which is critical for cell survival and various cellular processes. The findings provide a key concept to understanding how microtubule dynamics control cellular phenomena.
Researchers at DZNE discovered that centrosome controls neuronal migration but not axon growth. The study used novel molecular tools to show that centrosomal activity influences radial migration of projection neurons.
Researchers found that MAP4343 reversed excessive alcohol intake in mice modeling alcoholism and normalized blood levels of stress hormone corticosterone. The compound promotes assembly of tubulin proteins into microtubules, suggesting a possible effective treatment strategy for alcohol use disorder.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have discovered the ch-TOG protein's key role in microtubule initiation, crucial for cell functions and division. The protein facilitates the binding of tubulin molecules, enabling microtubule formation and growth.
Researchers at Okayama University discovered genes and proteins responsible for the rapid contraction of axopodia in Heliozoa, a group of eukaryotes. The study identified key players in microtubule disruption, including katanin p60, kinesin, and calcium signaling proteins.
Researchers discovered a smart molecular glue formed by proteins clinging to microtubules, enabling nucleus positioning during cell division. The 'glue' enables mechanical forces to be transduced as desired, with flexible properties allowing it to withstand tension.
Researchers discovered that Dis1 protein promotes microtubule shortening in fission yeast through catastrophe, a process where growing microtubules suddenly shorten. This finding challenges the conventional view of microtubule stabilization and has long-term applications for therapy and artificial cell segregation.
Researchers have identified a potential new cancer therapeutic target in the cell division enzyme TTLL11. Microtubule polyglutamylation by TTLL11 is crucial for faithful chromosome segregation. In cancer, TTLL11 levels are significantly downregulated, leading to unstable microtubules that favor aneuploid cells.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that the Newtic1 protein plays a crucial role in limb regeneration by secreting TGFβ1 growth factors. This discovery sheds light on the regenerative abilities of adult newts and their potential as a model for regenerative medicine.
New research reveals that tau protein can self-assemble to form an envelope around microtubules, compacting them and affecting how other proteins attach. This novel behavior may play a regulatory role in healthy brain tissue, bringing us closer to understanding its connection to disease.
The Gerlich Group at IMBA found that histone acetylation establishes a sharp surface boundary on chromosomes, resisting microtubule perforation. Chromatin phase separation and DNA looping by condensin cooperates to build mitotic chromosomes with unique physical properties.
Researchers discovered that CAMSAP2 proteins utilize phase separation to form an 'aster' structure, which then organizes into a microtubule network. This process is crucial for the formation of specialized cell shapes, such as those found in heart muscle and nerve cells.
Researchers developed artificial microtubules to transport microscopic cargo along magnetic stepping stones, overcoming fluid flow obstacles. The technology could facilitate targeted drug delivery and treat blocked vessels or cancerous tumors.
A research team developed a novel super-resolution microscopy technique combining metal-induced energy transfer and single-molecule localization microscopy. The method achieves isotropic three-dimensional imaging of sub-cellular structures, allowing for high-resolution analysis of protein complexes and organelles.
Researchers at Nagoya University discovered a tubulin homolog protein in the archaeon Odinarchaeota, which forms microtubules critical to cell organization. The study reveals an intermediate structure between bacterial and eukaryotic cells, shedding light on the evolution of complex cellular features.
A recent study published in eLife has revealed that high levels of soluble tau protein impair signaling between neurons, leading to cognitive decline. The research suggests that targeting the binding site of dynamin, a protein that binds to microtubules, may rescue synaptic transmission and prevent memory impairment.
A series of FQXi-funded experiments deep under the Italian mountains failed to find evidence in support of a gravity-related quantum collapse model, undermining the feasibility of this explanation for consciousness. The team used an extremely sensitive cylindrical detector and reported no spontaneous radiation signals after running the...
Biologists at the University of Rochester have identified two key systems controlling gene expression related to longevity: circadian networks regulating negative lifespan genes and the pluripotency network controlling positive lifespan genes. This research provides new insights into understanding how longevity evolves and may lead to ...
Researchers developed micro-sized machines utilizing swarming strategy for cargo delivery, outperforming single robots with efficiency of up to five times. The team created a swarm of cooperating robots that can divide workload and respond to risks, expanding potential uses for microrobots.
Researchers found that APC gene mutations in colon cancer patients disrupt T lymphocyte migration to tumors, making it harder for the immune system to combat cancer. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms of antitumor immune defense.
Researchers developed a novel algorithm, 'Joint Space and Frequency Reconstruction' (JSFR-SIM), to accelerate image reconstruction in optically sectioned superresolution structured illumination microscopy. The method achieves 80 times faster execution speed without compromising image quality.
The Paul Scherrer Institute and Italian Institute of Technology have developed a novel substance called Todalam that disables tubulin, a protein essential for cell division. In cell cultures, Todalam kills cells, making it a promising starting point for developing an anti-cancer drug.
Researchers at Hokkaido University found that trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) can reversibly control the rigidity of kinesin-propelled microtubules, a crucial component of molecular machines. The study demonstrates a simple method to dynamically adjust MT property and functions.
A team of researchers has discovered that Naegleria employs three distinct tubulins during mitosis, which could lead to the development of new treatments for brain-eating infections. The study also sheds light on the fundamental rules governing life on earth and the diversity of life.
Researchers develop a method called Cell Painting that uses morphological profiling to detect side effects of substances on cells, enabling the identification of tubulin-modulating compounds. The study reveals over 1% of tested substances have this effect, including previously unknown reference substances.
Microtubule structures play a crucial role in regulating insulin release from pancreatic beta cells, with dynamic turnover leading to increased insulin secretion. The findings have important implications for understanding diabetes and could lead to new treatments.
A research team led by Associate Professor Akira Kakugo of Hokkaido University has provided direct evidence that microtubules function as mechanosensors, slowing down kinesin movement when bent. This phenomenon is attributed to enhanced interaction energy between kinesin and deformed microtubule structural units.
A new signaling pathway has been identified in fruit flies that causes neural cells to divide after damage, a process similar to what occurs in Alzheimer's Disease. Researchers hope to apply this knowledge to prevent abnormal cell division and neuronal death in humans.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute successfully rebuilt the kinetochore, a complex assembly of proteins that binds to microtubules, in vitro. The reconstruction is a significant milestone in understanding how the kinetochore functions and paves the way for creating synthetic chromosomes.
A research team from the University of Göttingen has observed a direct interaction between microtubules and intermediate filaments, leading to stabilisation and extended lifespan. This interaction is important for understanding cellular processes and may have implications for diseased cells.