Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.
MRC Doctoral Training Partnership, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.
Essays Biochem. 2018 Dec 7;62(6):725-735. doi: 10.1042/EBC20180035.
Microtubules are key players in cellular self-organization, acting as structural scaffolds, cellular highways, force generators and signalling platforms. Microtubules are polar filaments that undergo dynamic instability, i.e. transition between phases of growth and shrinkage. This allows microtubules to explore the inner space of the cell, generate pushing and pulling forces and remodel themselves into arrays with different geometry and function such as the mitotic spindle. To do this, eukaryotic cells employ an arsenal of regulatory proteins to control microtubule dynamics spatially and temporally. Plants and microorganisms have developed secondary metabolites that perturb microtubule dynamics, many of which are in active use as cancer chemotherapeutics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Here, we summarize the methods used to visualize microtubules and to measure the parameters of dynamic instability to study both microtubule regulatory proteins and the action of small molecules interfering with microtubule assembly and/or disassembly.
微管是细胞自我组织的关键参与者，作为结构支架、细胞高速公路、力发生器和信号平台发挥作用。微管是极性纤维，经历动态不稳定性，即在生长和收缩相之间的转变。这使得微管能够探索细胞的内部空间，产生推拉力，并将自身重塑成具有不同几何形状和功能的阵列，如有丝分裂纺锤体。为此，真核细胞利用了一系列调节蛋白来空间和时间上控制微管动力学。植物和微生物已经开发出了干扰微管动力学的次生代谢物，其中许多被用作癌症化疗药物和抗炎药物。在这里，我们总结了用于可视化微管和测量动态不稳定性参数的方法，以研究微管调节蛋白和干扰微管组装和/或解组装的小分子的作用。
