Stathmin regulates centrosomal nucleation of microtubules and tubulin dimer/polymer partitioning.

ABSTRACT: Stathmin is a microtubule-destabilizing protein ubiquitously expressed in vertebrates and highly expressed in many cancers. In several cell types, stathmin regulates the partitioning of tubulin between unassembled and polymer forms, but the mechanism responsible for partitioning has not been determined. We examined stathmin function in two cell systems: mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from embryos +/+, +/-, and -/- for the stathmin gene and porcine kidney epithelial (LLCPK) cells expressing stathmin-cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) or injected with stathmin protein. In MEFs, the relative amount of stathmin corresponded to genotype, where cells heterozygous for stathmin expressed half as much stathmin mRNA and protein as wild-type cells. Reduction or loss of stathmin resulted in i

SUBMITTER: Ringhoff DN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2719563 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature