Articles tagged with Microtubules
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.
A single gene mutation can slow down cell division, preventing proper brain development and leading to microcephaly. This process involves the dysregulation of microtubules, which are essential for distributing genetic material between new cells.
Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology discovered that an anchoring complex, Msd1-Wdr8, stabilizes microtubule creation sites in plant cells. It then recruits katanin, a key enzyme, to sever new microtubules, enabling cell division and development.
Researchers at Ruđer Bošković Institute discovered the exact molecular mechanism of bridging microtubules sliding and its role in proper distribution of genetic material during cell division. The study found that two mechanistically distinct sliding modules powered by kinesin motor proteins drive spindle elongation.
Researchers developed a novel technique for live-cell imaging with the POLArIS probe, which revealed a new actin structure called FLARE in dividing starfish embryos. This discovery sheds light on fundamental questions of cell division and development.
Scientists at UNIGE have developed a fluorescent dye to track the movement of kinesin proteins within cells, revealing their path and direction. This breakthrough enables researchers to study the fundamental question of protein transport and cargo distribution in cells.
Researchers used genetic engineering to make Arabidopsis thaliana cells form xylem and secondary cell walls, allowing them to observe the formation process. The study revealed that microtubules play a key role in forming patterns, and a protein complex called KATANIN is involved in the timely and orderly formation of secondary walls.
Researchers discovered that liquid-like proteins form condensed phases with liquid properties, similar to morning dew on a spiderweb. The phase separation is driven by a hydrodynamic instability and affects microtubule branching in cells.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered how propofol, a common anesthetic, disrupts the movement of kinesin proteins that deliver cargo along microtubules. The study found that propofol binding shortens the 'run length' of kinesin's motion by up to 60%, leading to its release from the microtubule and stopping its movement.
Scientists have discovered that cell-spanning whirlpools in egg cells are formed by the collective behavior of rodlike molecular tubes called microtubules. The gyres distribute nutrients and guide development, likely observed in humans as well.
Researchers found that glycylation, a rare modification of tubulin protein, is essential for maintaining straight swimming motion in sperm cells. Without this modification, sperm swim in circles due to uncoordinated activity of molecular motors.
Researchers from IRB Barcelona and CNIO successfully reconstituted the human -tubulin ring complex (γTuRC) in vitro, a crucial component of microtubule formation. The 3D structure of γTuRC was revealed using cryo-electron microscopy.
Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University discovered a novel role for vasohibin-1 in preventing cancer cells from spreading. The protein inhibits the formation of new blood vessels by interfering with microtubule function, ultimately blocking signals that promote angiogenesis.
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München researchers have developed light-gated compounds that allow precise control of cytoskeleton dynamics in neurons. These compounds can optically pattern cell division and may elucidate how Taxol acts, providing a new approach to understanding cellular cargo trafficking and regulation of mitosis.
Researchers found CAMSAP1 plays a crucial role in regulating axon/dendrite differentiation by creating an unbalanced distribution of microtubules among processes. The study resolves a long-standing question in neuroscience about the decisive factor for neuronal polarity establishment.
Scientists at University of California San Diego have produced the first visualizations of LRRK2 inside its natural cellular environment and the first high-resolution blueprint of the protein. They discovered how LRRK2 binds to microtubules, acting as a roadblock for motors that move along these tracks.
New research published in Developmental Cell shows that an overabundance of protein PRC1 disrupts genome errors linked to cancer. The protein acts like a viscous glue during cell division, precisely controlling the speed at which two sets of DNA are separated as a single cell divides.
Researchers uncover how TANGLED1 controls microtubule movement, enabling accurate cell division in plants. This discovery could lead to improved crop yields and insights into human cellular processes, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
A research team has created a system that uses light-reactive photo switches to control the formation and degradation of DNA building blocks. This allows for the creation of self-assembling structures with adaptable properties, opening up new possibilities for developing synthetic materials inspired by living organisms.
Lis1 activation mechanism found to prevent dynein's self-inhibition, enabling motor protein function. This discovery may provide insights into neurological diseases like lissencephaly and guide therapeutic interventions.
Researchers developed a novel technique to study how deformed microtubules affect their function, shedding light on traumatic brain injuries and Parkinson's disease. Microtubules, like train tracks, transport molecular cargo, but become deformed in certain diseases.
Researchers at Kumamoto University found that actin filaments play a crucial role in controlling the shape of phragmoplasts, which form the partition between dividing plant cells. Disrupting actin filaments alters phragmoplast dynamics and affects cell plate formation.
Researchers have successfully solved the structure of Parkinson's disease-related protein LRRK2 inside cells using a pioneering technique. The study reveals that pathogenic LRRK2 forms exquisitely-organized double-helices around microtubules, suggesting a potential target for therapies.
Researchers identified a molecular mechanism for communication between microtubule and actin networks, enabling color change in amphibians and fish. A theoretical model supports the findings, highlighting the regulatory efficiency of cytoskeletal interactions.
Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism that enables amphibians and fish to change their color by communicating between the actin and microtubule networks. The discovery reveals potential evolutionary paths and highlights the importance of motor proteins adapting to different cytoskeleton systems.
A team of researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine will use a novel brain-imaging technique to image microtubules in the brain, which could potentially predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to identify a biomarker for neural degeneration and cognitive impairment.
Plant researchers have discovered a dual guidance system that enables plants to grow stronger and respond more flexibly to environmental cues. This autonomous system allows cellulose synthase complexes to interact with chemical trails left by other complexes, guiding the arrangement of cellulose fibres.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found a complex system of filaments and liquid droplet dynamics that enables the repair of damaged DNA in cell nuclei. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about DNA damage and highlights the value of cross-disciplinary research.
Researchers discovered that two types of 'kinesin' molecular motors coordinate differently, with kinesin-1 working independently and kinesin-14 interacting to tune transport speed. This breakthrough expands understanding of cellular processes and basic life functions.
Researchers successfully used deep-sea osmolyte trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) to control biomolecular machines over a wide temperature range. TMAO suppresses thermal denaturation of kinesins in a concentration-dependent manner, allowing them to propel microtubules for a prolonged time.
The team created a cucurbituril-based host-guest complex that polymerized into a linear chain and then associated into a hollow microtubule via van der Waals interactions. This breakthrough mimics the formation mechanism of natural microtubules, essential for cellular functions.
Scientists from Heidelberg University discovered the formation of spiral-shaped microtubules using state-of-the-art cryo-EM. The study reveals how the gamma-tubulin ring complex serves as a structural template for microtubule assembly, enabling quick regulation of division and cell growth.
Princeton researchers recreated a crucial cell division process outside a cell, uncovering the vital role of protein TPX2 in over 25% of all cancers. The team's findings reveal TPX2 facilitates efficient microtubule assembly and spindle formation by acting as a liquid-like molecule.
The study aimed to understand how the properties of tubulin dimers and protofilaments depend on GTP hydrolysis. Scientists verified the first hypothesis that GTP affects flexibility in bonds between dimers, enabling easier straightening of microtubules.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a method to control swarming molecular machines using simple mechanical stimuli, exhibiting zigzag patterns or forming vortices. The system uses motor proteins and microtubules, which can self-repair after disruption.
Biologists have directly observed and recorded branching microtubule nucleation in living fruit fly cells, a mechanism crucial to cell division. The technique enabled visualization of individual microtubules using TIRF microscopy, revealing that microtubule tips trigger the process.
New research reveals that microtubules in chromosome-dividing spindles are propelled forward by collective motion due to entanglement with neighboring tubes. This understanding aims to improve the study of cellular machinery and prevent errors like missing or extra chromosomes.
Researchers at Caltech have designed a method to study and manipulate the cytoskeleton in test tubes, shedding light on how cells control movement. By using light-activated proteins, they can control when and where asters form, allowing for the development of new tools for molecular biology and chemistry.
Researchers at Princeton University successfully built microtubules from scratch, revealing the branching pattern that enables cell growth and reproduction. Their study, published in eLife, provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying these cellular structures.
Scientists at the University of Warwick have discovered a new process that activates the fastest molecular motor in neurons, paving the way for new treatments. The research focuses on KIF1C, a tiny protein-based molecular motor that converts chemical energy into mechanical energy to transport cargoes along microtubule tracks.
Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute elucidated the structure of enzymes that remove tyrosine from α-tubulin, revealing a key regulatory cycle in microtubule formation. This discovery holds promise for developing inhibitors to treat diseases like cancer and neurological disorders.
Researchers at Hokkaido University successfully assembled a larger biomolecular motor system using DNA origami, overcoming previous scalability challenges. The system, combining fibrous microtubules and motor protein kinesins, exhibits dynamic contraction when energized by ATP.
Researchers at Waseda University have found that inhibiting the phosphorylation of CRMP2, a microtubule-binding protein, suppresses degeneration and promotes regeneration of nerve fibers in the optic nerve after injury. This breakthrough could lead to the development of novel treatments for patients with optic neuropathies such as glau...
A University of South Florida study reveals cofilin plays an essential role in worsening tau pathology, leading to brain cell death and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's. The research proposes inhibiting SSH1 as a potential target for treating Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists found that microtubule ends couple with kinetochores to direct chromosome segregation during cell division, and this process is similar to neuronal morphogenesis. The KMN network plays a critical role in both processes, suggesting a potential explanation for neurological conditions like microcephaly.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology discover CLIP-170's critical role in T cell activation by relocating the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) to the cell surface. This process is essential for immune response initiation and could lead to improved cancer immunotherapy.
Microtubules form scaffolding for cell movement and division. Researchers at UC Davis discovered the mechanism behind their assembly, using an animation to illustrate TOG domains driving tubulin polymerization.
A study published in Nature Cell Biology reveals the importance of the CENP-T pathway in ensuring accurate and timely chromosome segregation during cell division. The research, led by Osaka University, shows that this pathway is essential for successful mitosis and could lead to therapeutic options for diseases involving dysfunctional ...
A team of researchers has used cryo-electron microscopy to study how microtubule-associated proteins regulate cell structure and transport. They found that MAP4 stabilizes microtubules while blocking kinesin's movement, which could lead to new treatment strategies for cardiac hypertrophy and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers aim to understand the biological and physical underpinnings of mitosis, exploring how cells build, dissolve, and reuse structures millions of times per day. They will use physics concepts to analyze spindle fibers and develop a new model for their dynamic self-organization.
Scientists have discovered that mammalian embryos use two spindles to keep parental chromosomes separate during the first cell division. This finding may help explain high error rates in early developmental stages and has potential implications for human infertility treatment.
Researchers at Oregon State University solved a longstanding puzzle concerning kinesins, tiny motors that interact with microtubules inside cells. By altering the design of these motor proteins, scientists can develop new cancer therapies by targeting specific waist regions.
New study by Drexel University researchers suggests that tau protein allows microtubules to grow and remain dynamic. This challenges the widely-held theory that tau stabilizes microtubules, which is critical for cognitive function.
Researchers create nanoaggregates of microtubules by controlling their aggregation in response to light. The aggregation can cause cell death, making it a potential target for diseases caused by protein misfolding.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have identified the NEK7 protein as a crucial regulator of neuron formation in the hippocampus, a region associated with memory. The study found that NEK7 is essential for dendrite growth and branching, and its deficiency leads to complex phenotypes in mice, suggesting broader roles for this protein.
Researchers at the University of Münster have discovered a correlation between the spatial organization of a nerve cell and its process degeneration. The study found that specific arrangement of cytoskeleton components influences the direction of dendrite degeneration in fruit flies.
Sabine Petry and her team used novel imaging technique to show that XMAP215 works with gamma-tubulin ring complex to create microtubule nuclei. They found that XMAP215 promotes efficient microtubule nucleation, resolving a long-standing puzzle in cell biology.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and National Tsing Hua University developed a method to rapidly manipulate cilia's chemical signaling pathways, which can lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating human diseases. The technique, called STRIP, enables precise control over microtubule modifications in living cells.
The CENTROBIN protein plays a positive role in flagellum development, while exerting negative effects on primary cilia formation. Its discovery reveals the multifunctional nature of this protein in distinct cell types.
Researchers have created a near-atomic-resolution model of tau-microtubule interactions, revealing how tau stabilizes microtubules and forms aggregates that contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. The study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease.