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-Tubulin ring complexes regulate microtubule plus end dynamics

¹ Centre de Recherche en Pharmacologie-Santé, Unité Mixte de Recherche 2587 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique–Pierre Fabre, 31400 Toulouse, France
² Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular and ³ Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal

Correspondence to Brigitte Raynaud-Messina: brigitte.raynaud-messina{at}istmt.cnrs.fr

-Tubulin is critical for the initiation and regulation of microtubule (MT) assembly. In Drosophila melanogaster, it acts within two main complexes: the -tubulin small complex (-TuSC) and the -tubulin ring complex (-TuRC). Proteins specific of the -TuRC, although nonessential for viability, are required for efficient mitotic progression. Until now, their role during interphase remained poorly understood. Using RNA interference in Drosophila S2 cells, we show that the -TuRC is not critical for overall MT organization. However, depletion of any component of this complex results in an increase of MT dynamics. Combined immunofluorescence and live imaging analysis allows us to reveal that the -TuRC localizes along interphase MTs and that distal -tubulin spots match with sites of pause or rescue events. We propose that, in addition to its role in nucleation, the -TuRC associated to MTs may regulate their dynamics by limiting catastrophes.

Abbreviations used in this paper: dsRNA, double-stranded RNA; -TuRC, -tubulin ring complex; -TuSC, -tubulin small complex; MT, microtubule.

© 2009 Bouissou et al.
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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Short, B. (2009). {gamma}-TuRC gives microtubules pause for thought. JCB 187: 314-314 [Full Text]  

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