Articles tagged with Microtubules
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.
Researchers developed computer models that match experimental results, explaining the dynamic processes behind essential cell components. Microtubule stability is crucial for cell survival, and the study provides new insights into how cells maintain or dismantle these structures.
Researchers reconstituted cytokinesis, the final stage of cell division, using a cell-free system. The system mimics how the cleavage furrow is assembled, with signals directing molecular traffic. This breakthrough expands the scope of study and enables spatial manipulation of components.
Researchers have discovered that a previously known protein plays a crucial role in determining the form and function of plant cells by influencing their architecture. GCP-WD, a protein found in plants, is also essential for positioning microtubules and organizing cell skeletons.
Researchers from CNIO have characterized a key protein interaction that regulates cellular proliferation; this discovery may aid in developing new anti-microtubule drugs to combat cancer. The study's findings provide insights into the molecular basis of microtubule assembly during cell division.
Researchers have found that Topo 2, an essential enzyme for chromosome separation, needs more time to untangle long chromosomes, which can lead to mutations and cancer. The study suggests that chromosome length affects the enzyme's action and highlights the importance of understanding cell division.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a new way to preserve the flexibility and resilience of the brain, targeting areas affected by Alzheimer's disease. The breakthrough involves stabilizing microtubules, which provide a cellular skeleton for nerve cells, promoting neuroplasticity.
Scientists at Technical University of Munich created a simple cell model with a specific function using basic ingredients. The artificial cell can move and change shape without external influences, mimicking natural cell behavior.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a nanoscale assembly line that uses mobile assembly carriers and biological motors to assemble complex substances. The system, which is three times thinner than a human hair, enables the selective modification of organic molecules and the assembly of nanotechnological components.
Research by Prof. Peter W. Baas highlights the importance of microtubules in facilitating nerve regeneration following injury. The study demonstrates that microtubule-based strategies can promote axonal growth and regeneration, particularly in the distal tip of the axon.
Scientists have identified a potential oral therapy for Alzheimer's disease using compounds initially developed for cancer treatment. The study found that these molecules can stabilize microtubules in the brain, which are critical for transporting nutrients and other essential molecules.
Scientists have discovered where microtubules form inside the mitotic spindle and how their starting points are transported to opposite poles. This breakthrough provides a better understanding of cell division and paves the way for more effective cancer treatments.
Researchers identified specialized ribbons of four protofilaments within cilia microtubules, linking proteins to human disease. The discovery sheds light on the microstructure of cilia and their role in human function and disease.
Researchers used X-ray crystallography to study how tubulin acetyltransferase (TAT) interacts with microtubules, revealing that TAT only labels stable microtubules. This discovery may help cells distinguish between stable and unstable microtubules, influencing nerve cell health and behavior.
Berkeley Lab researchers unveiled the atomic-scale mechanism of microtubule assembly and disassembly. They found that GTP hydrolysis leads to conformational strain, which is reversed by Taxol binding, stabilizing the microtubule lattice.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered the mechanism by which Taxol interferes with microtubule polymerization, preventing cell division in cancer cells. This finding could lead to the development of better anticancer drugs and improvements to existing treatments.
Researchers found that internal stress on microtubules guides cell-wall component deposition and influences cell shape. The unusual shape of pavement cells represents a balance between maintaining structural integrity and responding to mechanical stress.
Kif15, a new molecular motor, uses its acrobatic flexibility to navigate the mitotic spindle during cell division. This unique ability could pave the way for targeted cancer therapies by allowing it to circumvent roadblocks and move along microtubules more quickly than other motors.
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has used mathematical modeling to better understand the mechanisms involved in traumatic brain injuries. Their findings reveal that rapid impacts can cause permanent damage due to the rate of stretching, not just the force applied.
A new study published in Circulation reveals how changes in the organized cell membrane network of heart muscle leads to heart failure. Colchicine, a drug used for gout treatment, protects normal heart function by reducing microtubule density, while taxol accelerates damage during heart failure.
A new research paper from the University of Notre Dame researchers Holly Goodson and Mark Alber resolves an ongoing debate about the assembly of a subcellular network that plays a critical role in cell function and disease. The study explains how stathmin, a key regulator, works by binding and destabilizing segments of microtubules.
Scientists have discovered a critical weakness in the microscopic transport system within cells, which could be targeted for cancer treatment. The study reveals that a narrow seam along microtubules is the weakest point, leading to its dissolution when cracked or split.
Researchers discovered that kinesin KIF13B concentrates at the cell membrane where LDL is taken up, and promotes endocytosis of LRP1 through caveolae. This unexpected role for a motor protein reveals a new mechanism for regulating blood cholesterol levels.
A team led by Yixian Zheng identified a protein that regulates interactions between kinetochores and microtubules, improving our understanding of chromosome alignment. The study suggests expanding the scope of research to include other cellular components for a deeper understanding of mitosis.
Researchers used laboratory experiments to test a model of microtubule steering, finding that kinesin motors can redirect microtubule ends into branches using crowd-sourced guidance from protein EB1. The study suggests this mechanism is a general strategy for organizing and maintaining proper microtubule polarity in cells.
A recent discovery of quantum vibrations in 'microtubules' inside brain neurons supports the controversial theory of consciousness, Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR). The theory proposes that consciousness derives from deeper level microtubule vibrations, which could benefit various mental and neurological conditions.
Scientists at the University of Exeter have identified four distinct routes for cell division, which could lead to errors in cell division and increase cancer risk. The study also found a central molecular complex, Augmin, essential for all these pathways.
Researchers found that Rho kinase regulates rat hippocampal neurite growth and microtubule formation by redistributing vinculin. The study used the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 to reverse inhibitory effects of lysophosphatidic acid on neurite outgrowth.
Researchers discovered how plant cells orient microtubule arrays to bend towards a light source through the action of protein katanin. This process enables plants to grow in response to environmental cues, shedding light on fundamental mechanisms of cell architecture and growth.
Researchers at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine discovered that cyclin A plays a crucial role in ensuring faithful chromosome segregation during cell division. In contrast to normal cells, cancer cells often fail to correct errors, leading to abnormal numbers of chromosomes and resistance to chemotherapy treatments.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia made a major advancement in understanding tissue development, finding that protein EB2 is a key regulator of tube-like structures inside cells. This discovery has important implications for cancers such as gut, breast and pancreatic cancer.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University developed a peptide called NAP that protects and restores microtubule function in brain cells. In animal models with microtubule damage, NAP maintained or revived protein transport, ameliorating neurodegeneration symptoms.
Researchers Arshad Desai and Christopher Campbell found that Aurora B kinase congregates on microtubules instead of the centromere, ensuring required tension is achieved on chromosomes. This discovery challenges prevailing model for how dividing cells monitor chromosome distribution.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have found that a unique modification to microtubules in neurons makes their cytoskeleton singularly robust. This discovery may help guide the search for treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists aim to unravel the mystery of microtubule directional signs, crucial for understanding diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS. The study's focus is on identifying modifications that could serve as road signs along molecular highways.
Researchers have identified a molecular surveillance system that helps detect and correct errors in cell division, preventing serious problems such as aneuploidy and cancer. The study reveals the importance of forces generated by molecular engines in regulating kinetochore-microtubule interactions.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Amherst studied the transport of bio-molecular complexes along microtubules. They found that motor proteins cooperate to minimize traffic jams, allowing cargos to travel farther before becoming detached.
Researchers at UMass Amherst use a custom microscope to study cellular active transport, discovering that high traffic slows cargo movement but doesn't hinder the process. By using quantum dots as biological probes, they found that multiple motors attached to a single cargo can overcome stalled motors and maintain efficient transport.
Jenny Ross, a UMass Amherst biophysicist, has won the 2013 Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award for her substantial contributions to biophysical research. The award recognizes her study of microtubules, which provide structure to cells and are crucial in various cellular processes.
Nek9 protein is required for chromosomes to separate into two identical groups during cell division. Its inhibition has been identified as a promising strategy against cancer.
Researchers from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência describe the steps involved in making a motile flagellum in fruit fly sperm cells. The process involves the formation of a critical protein structure called the central microtubule pair, essential for coordinated movement.
A new theoretical model shows that the length of microtubules is regulated by the attachment of motor proteins, which grow towards the plus-end and shorten the filament. This interplay between growth and shrinkage maintains a precisely regulated microtubule length essential for various intracellular tasks.
Researchers developed a mathematical model predicting the final size and shape of platelets, which form blood clots. The study provides insights into the forces inside cells that turn into platelets, shedding light on a longstanding puzzle in platelet formation.
Quantitative research reveals that microtubules form and transport throughout the spindle, contradicting the pole-to-pole theory, shedding new light on cell division mechanics.
Scientists have found that kinesins, molecular motors responsible for transporting proteins and chromosomes, exhibit spiral motion during transport. This finding challenges the long-held assumption of straight-line movement, suggesting a new perspective on their role in cell function.
A cancer compound called epothilone D has been found to slow neurological damage and improve memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The treatment prevented tau tangle formation and improved learning and memory tests, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience shows that EpoD prevents further neurological damage and improves cognitive performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The drug acts by stabilizing microtubules, potentially improving nerve-cell function in AD and other diseases.
Researchers have discovered that dynein, a motor protein, plays a crucial role in spindle alignment during mitosis. A signal from the chromosomes involving the ras-related nuclear protein (Ran) blocks LGN and dynein from attaching to the cell cortex closest to the chromosomes.
Biophysicists studied the interplay of microtubules and motors that shorten filaments, revealing a critical concentration of motors necessary for proper cell division. The research model shows that a traffic jam of motor molecules significantly alters microtubule shortening behavior.
Researchers at Caltech have obtained high-resolution images of a cell with a nucleus undergoing cell division, revealing a surprising twist in the process. The observations suggest that chromosomes may link together to form a bundle that can be segregated by a smaller number of microtubules.
Researchers discovered a critical component in plant cell growth, revealing how microtubules are organized into scaffolds. The CLASP protein plays a key role, modulating geometric constraints and influencing cell division.
Researchers discovered that excess beta amyloid protein clogs cell transport motors, causing abnormal cell division and defective neurons. The study suggests a new target for Alzheimer's treatment, allowing the brain to regenerate properly.
A new biomarker for tau-related brain disorders has been identified, suggesting a potential target for drug discovery and biomarker development. Acetylation may play a role in faulty binding of tau to microtubules, contributing to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.
New research suggests that defective regulation of microtubules may be responsible for at least some cases of Parkinson's disease. Microtubule disruption impairs dopamine release, leading to oxidative stress and cell death.
A team of scientists led by Melissa Rolls has discovered a key protein controlling the layout of microtubules in dendrites, allowing neurons to regenerate after severe injury. The research provides new insights into the process of nerve cell regeneration and potential avenues for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have isolated and observed the kinetochore, a molecular complex that pulls chromosomes apart during cell division, outside of cells. The kinetochore's precise mechanism involves a balance of tension and disassembly to ensure accurate DNA replication.
A new Penn study has found a class of drug that can enter the brain and stabilize degenerating neurons in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. The epothilone D class of microtubule-stabilizing drugs may offer hope for treatment by restoring microtubule tracks to their original supportive structure.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have produced a subnanometer resolution model of human Ndc80, a protein complex essential to mitosis. The study reveals how Ndc80 binds microtubules and self-associates via interactions mediated by the amino-terminal tail.
A University of Georgia study identifies a critical enzyme called MEC-17 that regulates microtubule acetylation in the nervous system. The finding could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which have altered levels of acetylation marks on microtubules.
Scientists at EMBL identified two proteins, PRC1 and kinesin-4, that control the formation and size of microtubule overlaps in the spindle. This adaptive mechanism ensures the overlap remains constant without affecting microtubules elsewhere in the cell.