Articles tagged with Microtubules
Physicists from TU Dresden and JMU developed a novel approach to measure optical near-fields with significantly less effort. By using biomolecules as a transport system, they can slide extremely small optical nano-probes over a surface, circumventing the diffraction limit.
Researchers develop a model that explains how microtubule lengths are regulated by motor proteins and resources. The study found that when resources are limited, microtubules can exhibit bistability, resulting in two distinct lengths, which is relevant to cell migration and division.
Researchers found a key regulator, importin IMB4, that holds kinesins in check until their cargo is needed. This process is crucial for building the plant cell wall and preventing waste.
A microscopic 'railway' system in cells can adjust its structure to suit bodies' needs, with research suggesting stabilization by kinesin enzymes. This discovery could lead to improved treatments for diseases linked to microtubule abnormalities, such as Alzheimer's and cancer.
Researchers have identified a new structure inside human sperm tails, which is essential for swimming and fertilization. The spiral-shaped feature helps coordinate the movement of motorproteins that propel the sperm forward.
A new study provides the first 3D visualization of the dynein-dynactin complex bound to microtubules, revealing a surprising feature: two dynein molecules where one was expected, with four motor domains total. This discovery helps explain how dynein can haul large loads over long distances in crowded cellular environments.
Researchers developed DNA-assisted molecular robots that autonomously swarm in response to chemical and physical signals. The swarm behavior resembles that of fish, ants, and birds, featuring complex structures, distinct divisions of labor, robustness, and flexibility.
Scientists have created new tiny tubes that can help with water filtration and tissue engineering studies. The tubes are inspired by protein structures called microtubules found in cells and are thousands of times smaller than a human hair.
Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München have identified a signaling pathway that restricts cleavage furrow formation to the mid-plane of the cell. This pathway involves the enzyme Aurora A, which is activated on astral microtubules and diffuses to the cell membrane at the poles to suppress contractile ring formation.
A large, enigmatic protein called AKAP350 plays a crucial role in assembling microtubules, which are essential for cell division and cargo transport. Researchers have gained new insights into its function, which may lead to improved anti-cancer therapies.
Scientists uncovered new insights into the regulatory network behind axon termination, a crucial process in neuron development. The study found that RPM-1 signaling is required to regulate growth cone collapse and microtubule stability during axon termination.
A research team led by Prof. Robert Qi uncovered a previously overlooked mechanism controlling the organization of microtubule cytoskeletons. They found that PolD1 physically associates with γTuRCs, blocking microtubule nucleation and regulating various cellular activities such as Golgi assembly and cell polarization.
A new Penn Medicine study found that female axons are smaller and have fewer microtubules, making them more susceptible to concussion. Women athletes are more likely to experience concussions and worse outcomes than men, possibly due to these anatomical differences.
Don Ingber and Charles Reilly created a film that accurately depicts the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, revealing new insights into molecular-scale processes. The film's animation pipeline integrated physics-based software with molecular dynamics simulation to create a model that worked across all size scales.
Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a new photostable fluorescent dye, PhoxBright 430 (PB430), to visualize cellular ultrastructure. PB430 enables continuous STED imaging and can be used for multicolor imaging of biological structures.
Scientists have developed a high-resolution microscope to directly observe kinesin motors moving along microtubules, revealing the coordination of attachment and release. This new understanding may help clarify defects in transport processes contributing to diseases such as Alzheimer's and ALS.
A patent study has identified chemically modified marine-derived microtubule-targeting agents with significant antiproliferative potency against a wide range of cancers. These drugs offer potential for overcoming multidrug resistance and improving cancer therapy outcomes.
Researchers at Drexel University have identified an enzyme inhibitor that could treat some of the neurological effects of Gulf War Illness, a disease linked to organophosphate nerve agents. The study found that correcting microtubule function may alleviate symptoms such as insomnia and cognitive problems.
A team of researchers has identified a rare human mutation that causes a devastating neurological disease, similar to conditions affecting the production and maintenance of myelin in rats. The discovery provides a new model for understanding and treating these diseases.
Researchers at University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre discovered a defect in eggs of older mice, causing errors in chromosome segregation. This may also be found in human eggs, contributing to age-related infertility and increased risk of miscarriage.
A University of East Anglia study reveals that the protein ninein is crucial for normal tissue development in the human gut. The research shows how microtubule rearrangements and the assembly of new Microtubule Organising Centres facilitate cell shape formation, nutrient uptake, and ultimately prevent cancer.
NAP, a fragment of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein, enhances Tau-microtubule interactions to block neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease. This stabilizes microtubules and protects biological material transport in nerve cells.
The study uses label-free spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) to image single microtubule dynamics without added dyes or stains. This allows for long-term imaging of cells, enabling the monitoring of protein movement and consumption of ATP.
Researchers define how anti-cancer molecules work, binding to microtubules and destabilizing cell growth. The study's findings can be used to optimize and develop new, safer drugs.
Researchers at MIPT have synthesized an antitumor compound that can target and kill chemoresistant ovarian carcinoma cells. The new agent was found to destroy microtubules, which are involved in cell division, making it a potential treatment for this aggressive form of cancer.
Scientists employed kinesin motor proteins to detect stretching and compressing of soft silicon-based material polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The study found that microtubules moved faster and aligned themselves in response to stretching, while slowing down and aligning perpendicular to compression.
Biologists at UMass Amherst have quantified the internal force during cell division, resolving a decades-long debate on how much force is involved. The study found that kinetochore fibers exert hundreds of piconewtons of poleward-directed force, settling the matter of how much force is brought to bear.
Researchers discovered that Kinesin-14 protein helps cells bundle growing microtubules into organized structures by guiding their growth in parallel. This mechanism is conserved throughout evolution and found in various animal cells, including humans and flies.
Researchers have created a 3D map of the doublecortin kinase like domain 1 (DCLK1) protein, which is linked to various types of cancers. The study provides new information on how DCLK1 functions and contributes to cancer formation.
Researchers at LMU Munich developed a new theoretical model explaining how regulatory proteins are transported to their sites of action in microtubules. The model suggests that energy is required to capture freely diffusing particles and proposes a mechanism for efficient transport by diffusion.
Researchers at Drexel University discover that motor proteins and sliding microtubules play a crucial role in guiding neurons to their correct destinations. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
Researchers discovered a tension-sensitive molecule, Stu2, that ensures correct chromosome distribution during cell division. This 'fail safe' mechanism helps prevent aneuploidy, a genetic abnormality common in tumor cells.
Researchers discovered that microtubules interact with the heart's contractile machinery to provide mechanical resistance during contraction. Increasing detyrosination leads to increased myocyte stiffness and impeded contraction, while suppressing it enables the sarcomere to shorten more easily.
Microtubules can spontaneously form large networks through the interaction of motor proteins. This self-organization is crucial for cell division and may inspire new materials and drug designs. Researchers developed a model describing this behavior, which could lead to breakthroughs in biology and material science.
Researchers at University of Tsukuba have successfully developed a new type of anticancer agent, gatastatin, targeting γ-tubulin. This γ-tubulin specific inhibitor has shed light on the importance of γ-tubulin function in microtubule stability during late stages of cell division.
Researchers have discovered a new mutation that rescues abnormal axonal growth in the developing mouse brain affected by CFEOM3. The mutation targets the kinesin-microtubule interface and suppresses abnormal axon guidance.
The study found that regular microtubule arrangement is necessary for node cilia rotation, which determines left-right asymmetry of the body. The researchers also discovered that radial spokes play a crucial role in supporting this structure.
Asymmetric cell division occurs when endosomes, containing signalling molecules, are distributed unevenly between daughter cells. The central spindle, a scaffold structure composed of microtubules, plays a crucial role in dispatching this information.
Researchers found that microtubules limit glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, but also allow for increased release when destabilized. Targeting microtubule regulation may offer new ways to treat type 2 diabetes.
Clinical geneticists have identified two genes, MAPRE2 and TUBB, linked to circumferential skin creases Kunze type and associated intellectual disability. The syndrome is extremely rare, affecting less than a dozen cases worldwide.
Scientists have successfully mapped the atomic structure of a protein bound to microtubules, revealing insights into neurodegenerative diseases. The study used magic-angle-spinning NMR spectroscopy to visualize the dynamic interactions between CAP-Gly and microtubules.
Research by Rockefeller University scientists shows DNA strands increase mobility during repair, which may serve as a 'fail-safe mechanism'. This process is linked to chemotherapy and cancer treatment, and understanding its mechanisms could lead to new therapies.
Recent research by IPC PAS reveals how kinesin transports large molecules within cells, utilizing a unique 'silly walk' mechanism. By controlling the movement of kinesin, researchers confirmed one of earlier-known proposals of its mechanism.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered that a molecular motor can stimulate the growth of microtubules in cells, which could lead to new treatments for cancer. The study found that kinesin-5 molecules pause at the end of microtubules and generate pushing forces, allowing them to grow the microtubes.
Scientists at Rockefeller University uncover new insights into mechanical forces governing mitotic spindle formation. They describe how kinesin-5 acts as a molecular motor to organize the spindle, generating forces that tune its balance. This research has medical implications for cancer therapies and understanding cell division.
Researchers uncover the crucial function of a protein called BuGZ in assembling the spindle matrix and microtubules during mitosis. The discovery could lead to new insights into cancer and other diseases caused by errors in cell division.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals how the protein centrosomin controls the growth of microtubules within neurons, influencing dendritic branching. The researchers found that centrosomin acts as a 'glue' to fix microtubules, preventing excessive branching and promoting more complex arbors.
Researchers found that tubulin assembly involves a single machine comprising the largest four genes, which powers the process using chemical energy and assembles microtubules that play critical roles in cell structure and division. Understanding this system may provide new strategies for controlling microtubules in cancer cells.
Researchers visualize the atomic view of microtubules, revealing the crucial role of end-binding proteins in regulating their dynamic instability. This understanding could lead to improved potency and selectivity of anticancer drugs targeting microtubule dynamics.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the workings of an error correction mechanism that helps cells detect and correct mistakes in cell division. The study reveals the crucial importance of chromosome position in the spindle and how it affects division success, shedding light on aneuploidy prevention.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered a new cell structure called the mesh, which helps hold together cells and is partly made of protein TACC3 found to change in certain cancers. The finding provides crucial insight into why cancer cells develop incorrectly during division.
Researchers developed a method to optically control microtubule inhibitor drugs with high spatial precision, allowing for targeted treatment of cancer cells. The technique uses blue light to switch on and off the drugs, eliminating systemic side effects and improving therapeutic efficacy.
Scientists found a thick band of microtubules in retina neurons that serve as a 'transport road' for mitochondria, crucial for sustained visual processing. This discovery sheds light on how bipolar cells meet their high energy demands.
A study published in Cell reveals the 3D structure of tubulin tyrosine ligase-7 (TTLL7) bound to microtubules, providing insights into how chemical markers influence cell functions. The findings also shed light on how disruptions in these patterns can lead to neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have mapped the structure of an enzyme important for nervous system development. The new structure provides crucial information on how the protein binds to cellular components, shedding light on its role in neurodegenerative diseases such as retinal dystrophy and Joubert syndrome.
Researchers have determined the basic structural organization of the dynein-dynactin complex, a molecular motor responsible for cellular activities such as cell division and intracellular transport. The findings shed light on diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS, and could lead to new treatments.
Researchers have found a minimal mechanism for stabilizing overlapping microtubules, allowing cells to divide correctly. The study reveals that weakly binding proteins create an 'ever growing counter-pressure' between microtubules as they slide apart.
Rice University researchers found that motor proteins collaborate to regulate cell-transport systems by favoring slow and steady movement. Weak repulsions led to maximum movement along microtubules, while strong attractions caused clusters that stopped motors.
Researchers from RIKEN Brain Science Institute have made significant strides in understanding the mechanism of dynein's movement along microtubules. The study found that specific amino acid residues on the microtubule structure play a crucial role in activating the dynein motor, enabling directional movement and cargo transport.
Researchers use photoactivatable complementary fluorescent proteins to observe and quantify protein-protein interactions in live cells with single molecule level precision. The technique reveals a surprisingly critical role for a previously uncharacterized EB1 linker region in tracking microtubule plus-ends.