A mutation uncouples the tubulin conformational and GTPase cycles, revealing allosteric control of microtubule dynamics

Elisabeth A. Geyer, Alexander Burns, Beth A. Lalonde, Xuecheng Ye, Felipe Andres Piedra, Tim C. Huffaker, Luke M. Rice

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microtubule dynamic instability depends on the GTPase activity of the polymerizing ab-tubulin subunits, which cycle through at least three distinct conformations as they move into and out of microtubules. How this conformational cycle contributes to microtubule growing, shrinking, and switching remains unknown. Here, we report that a buried mutation in αβ-tubulin yields microtubules with dramatically reduced shrinking rate and catastrophe frequency. The mutation causes these effects by suppressing a conformational change that normally occurs in response to GTP hydrolysis in the lattice, without detectably changing the conformation of unpolymerized αβ-tubulin. Thus, the mutation weakens the coupling between the conformational and GTPase cycles of αβ-tubulin. By showing that the mutation predominantly affects post-GTPase conformational and dynamic properties of microtubules, our data reveal that the strength of the allosteric response to GDP in the lattice dictates the frequency of catastrophe and the severity of rapid shrinking.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere10113
JournaleLife
Volume4
Issue numberOCTOBER2015
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 6 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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