Key Concepts of Section 18.3

Key Concepts of Section 18.3

Regulation of Microtubule Structure and Dynamics

  • Microtubules can be stabilized by side-binding microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) (see Figure 18-13).

  • Some MAPs, called +TIPs, bind selectively to growing (+) ends of microtubules and can alter the dynamic properties of the microtubule or attach components of the cell to the searching (+) end of the microtubule (see Figure 18-14).

  • Microtubule ends can be destabilized by some proteins, such as the kinesin-13 family of proteins and Op18/stathmin, to enhance the frequency of catastrophes (see Figure 18-15).