Stathmin-Tubulin Interaction Gradients in Motile and Mitotic Cells
Abstract
The spatial organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton is thought to be directed by steady-state activity gradients of diffusible regulatory molecules. We visualized such intracellular gradients by monitoring the interaction between tubulin and a regulator of microtubule dynamics, stathmin, using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor. These gradients were observed both during interphase in motile membrane protrusions and during mitosis around chromosomes, which suggests that a similar mechanism may contribute to the creation of polarized microtubule structures. These interaction patterns are likely to reflect phosphorylation of stathmin in these areas.
- Publication:
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Science
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1094108
- Bibcode:
- 2004Sci...303.1862N
- Keywords:
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- CELL BIOL