Pathology Anatomy and Cell Biology Department, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2019 Nov;244(15):1240-1254. doi: 10.1177/1535370219867296. Epub 2019 Aug 6.
Microtubules are cytoskeletal elements known as drivers of directed cell migration, vesicle and organelle trafficking, and mitosis. In this review, we discuss new research in the lens that has shed light into further roles for stable microtubules in the process of development and morphogenesis. In the lens, as well as other systems, distinct roles for characteristically dynamic microtubules and stabilized populations are coming to light. Understanding the mechanisms of microtubule stabilization and the associated microtubule post-translational modifications is an evolving field of study. Appropriate cellular homeostasis relies on not only one cytoskeletal element, but also rather an interaction between cytoskeletal proteins as well as other cellular regulators. Microtubules are key integrators with actin and intermediate filaments, as well as cell–cell junctional proteins and other cellular regulators including myosin and RhoGTPases to maintain this balance.
The role of microtubules in cellular functioning is constantly expanding. In this review, we examine new and exciting fields of discovery for microtubule’s involvement in morphogenesis, highlight our evolving understanding of differential roles for stabilized versus dynamic subpopulations, and further understanding of microtubules as a cellular integrator.
微管是细胞骨架的组成部分，被称为定向细胞迁移、囊泡和细胞器运输以及有丝分裂的驱动因素。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了晶状体中的新研究，这些研究揭示了稳定微管在发育和形态发生过程中的进一步作用。在晶状体以及其他系统中，特有的动态微管和稳定群体的明显作用正在显现。理解微管稳定的机制以及相关的微管翻译后修饰是一个不断发展的研究领域。适当的细胞内稳态不仅依赖于一种细胞骨架元件，还依赖于细胞骨架蛋白以及其他细胞调节剂之间的相互作用。微管是与肌动蛋白和中间丝以及细胞-细胞连接蛋白和其他细胞调节剂（包括肌球蛋白和 RhoGTPases）的关键整合者，以维持这种平衡。
微管在细胞功能中的作用不断扩大。在这篇综述中，我们研究了微管在形态发生中参与的新的令人兴奋的发现领域，强调了我们对稳定与动态亚群的不同作用的不断发展的理解，并进一步理解了微管作为细胞整合者。
