Tubulin tails and their modifications regulate protein diffusion on microtubules.

ABSTRACT: Microtubules (MTs) are essential components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton that serve as "highways" for intracellular trafficking. In addition to the well-known active transport of cargo by motor proteins, many MT-binding proteins seem to adopt diffusional motility as a transportation mechanism. However, because of the limited spatial resolution of current experimental techniques, the detailed mechanism of protein diffusion has not been elucidated. In particular, the precise role of tubulin tails and tail modifications in the diffusion process is unclear. Here, using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations validated against atomistic simulations, we explore the molecular mechanism of protein diffusion along MTs. We found that electrostatic interactions play a central role in protein

SUBMITTER: Bigman LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7183165 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature