Induction of a sheet polymer of tubulin by Zn2+

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Abstract

The in vitro polymerization of bovine brain tubulin in the presence of Zn2+ has been studied. Zn2+, at concentrations higher than 5 × 10−5 M caused the formation of sheets, sometimes consisting of up to 50–60 protofilaments oriented in parallel. The sheets were stable towards colchicine, Ca2+ and cold treatment. The induction of sheets cannot solely be ascribed to the sulfhydryl blocking properties of Zn2+, since other SH reagents (NEM, PCMBS, Cd2+ and Hg2+) failed to cause similar effects. There are reasons to believe that Zn2+ interferes with the closing process of microtubules so that more protofilaments are added in the assembly process than during normal conditions. The system described herein offers a favourable preparation for revealing the ultrastructural organization of microtubules.

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The present work was supported by grants from Statens Naturvetenskapliga Forskningsråd (No. 2535-0011).

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