CLIP-170 tracks growing microtubule ends by dynamically recognizing composite EB1/tubulin-binding sites.

ABSTRACT: The microtubule cytoskeleton is crucial for the internal organization of eukaryotic cells. Several microtubule-associated proteins link microtubules to subcellular structures. A subclass of these proteins, the plus end-binding proteins (+TIPs), selectively binds to the growing plus ends of microtubules. Here, we reconstitute a vertebrate plus end tracking system composed of the most prominent +TIPs, end-binding protein 1 (EB1) and CLIP-170, in vitro and dissect their end-tracking mechanism. We find that EB1 autonomously recognizes specific binding sites present at growing microtubule ends. In contrast, CLIP-170 does not end-track by itself but requires EB1. CLIP-170 recognizes and turns over rapidly on composite binding sites constituted by end-accumulated EB1 and tyrosinated alpha-tubulin

SUBMITTER: Bieling P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2606963 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature