Msps/XMAP215 interacts with the centrosomal protein D-TACC to regulate microtubule behaviour.

Journal article

The XMAP215/ch-TOG/Msps family of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) promote microtubule growth in vitro and are concentrated at centrosomes in vivo. We show here that Msps (mini-spindles protein) interacts with the centrosomal protein D-TACC, and that this interaction strongly influences microtubule behaviour in Drosophila embryos. If D-TACC levels are reduced, Msps does not concentrate at the centrosomes efficiently and the centrosomal microtubules appear to be destabilized. If D-TACC levels are increased, both D-TACC and Msps accumulate around the centrosomes/spindle poles, and the centrosomal microtubules appear to be stabilized. We show that the interaction between D-TACC and Msps is evolutionarily conserved. We propose that D-TACC and Msps normally cooperate to stabilize centrosomal microtubules by binding to their minus ends and binding to their plus ends as they grow out from the centrosome.

Authors: Lee, M; Gergely, F; Jeffers, K; Peak-Chew, S; Raff, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Nature cell biology
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 643-649
• Publication date: 2001-07-01
• DOI: 10.1038/35083033
• EISSN: 1476-4679
• ISSN: 1465-7392
• Language: English
• Keywords: Microtubules; Animals; Drosophila Proteins; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Protein Binding; Evolution, Molecular; Insect Proteins; Cloning, Molecular; Xenopus Proteins; Transfection; Humans; Centrosome; Drug Interactions; Drosophila; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Blotting, Western