Microtubules

Microtubules are cylindrical tubes of 20-25 nm in diameter. They are composed of protofilaments which are in turn composed of α- and β-tubulin polymers. Each microtubule is polarized, at one end α-subunits are exposed (-) and at the other β-subunits are exposed (+). Microtubules act as a scaffold to determine cell shape, and provide a backbone for cell organelles and vesicles to move along, a process that requires motor proteins.

The major microtubule motor proteins are kinesin, which generally moves towards the (+) end of the microtubule, and dynein, which generally moves towards the (-) end. Microtubules also form the spindle fibers for separating chromosomes during mitosis. Due to this central role in cell division, microtubules are of interest as a therapeutic target in cancer research. Both inhibition of microtubule polymerization and stabilization of the microtubules block cell division, and molecules which affect microtubule assembly are therefore of potential use as anticancer agents.

Microtubule Gene Data