Tomohiro Shima

May 2, 2024 | biorxiv.org | Hiroshi Yamaguchi |Masahide Kikkawa |Tomohiro Shima |Hanjin Liu

AbstractMicrotubule cytoskeletons play pivotal roles in various cellular processes, including cell division and locomotion, by dynamically changing their length and distribution in cells through tubulin polymerization/depolymerization. Recent structural studies have revealed the polymorphic lattice structure of microtubules closely correlate with the microtubule dynamics, but the studies were limited to averaged structures.

Mar 9, 2023 | life-science-alliance.org | Tomohiro Shima

DiscussionIn this study, we demonstrated that the D2 region of human CAMSAP3 preferentially binds to the expanded lattice of microtubules. At saturating levels, D2 expanded the microtubule lattice by 3.2% (Fig 4), which slowed the microtubule depolymerization rate down ∼18-fold (Fig 5). Combining these results with previously known functions of the CKK domain, we suggest a detailed model of microtubule stabilization by CAMSAP3 (Fig 6A).