Abstract
Microtubules are intracellular polymeric structures found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. Two other major intracellular fiber systems—the intermediate filaments and the actin-based microfilaments—combine with microtubules (MTs) to form the cytoskeleton, the dynamic architectural coordinate system of the cell. MTs are steady-state dynamic polymers, constantly exchanging with a pool of the subunit protein tubulin. In addition to tubulin, the intracellular polymer should be considered to contain the many other proteins that bind to MTs, move along the surface, and change their properties. Recent reviews and monographs on MTs and tubulin have emphasized different aspects, such as MT structure (Amos and Amos, 1991; Linck, 1989; Wade and Chretien, 1993), tubulin structure (Luduena et al., 1992; Ponstingl et al., 1984; Serrano and Avila, 1990), sequence and isotype analysis (Burns, 1991a; Burns and Surridge, 1990; Little and Seehaus, 1988; Luduena, 1993), tubulin/MT cell biology (Byard and Lange, 1991; Huang, 1990), membrane tubulin (Stephens, 1986), and plant MT and tubulin (Fosket and Morejohn, 1992). Reviews of other topics will be cited in appropriate sections. This chapter covers material published through October 1993.
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References
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Sackett, D.L. (1995). Structure and Function in the Tubulin Dimer and the Role of the Acidic Carboxyl Terminus. In: Biswas, B.B., Roy, S. (eds) Proteins: Structure, Function, and Engineering. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 24. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1727-0_9
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