Journal Article

PUBDB-2021-04858

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Hierarchical Assembly Pathways of Spermine-Induced Tubulin Conical-Spiral Architectures

Dharan, R. ; Shemesh, A. ; Millgram, A. ; Zalk, R. ; Frank, G. A. ; Levi-Kalisman, Y. ; Ringel, I. (Corresponding author) ; Raviv, U. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2021
Soc. Washington, DC

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1021/acsnano.1c01374  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2021-04858

Abstract: Tubulin, an essential cytoskeletal protein, assembles into various morphologies by interacting with an array of cellular factors. One of these factors is the endogenous polyamine spermine, which may promote and stabilize tubulin assemblies. Nevertheless, the assembled structures and their formation pathways are poorly known. Here we show that spermine induced the in vitro assembly of tubulin into several hierarchical architectures based on a tubulin conical-spiral subunit. Using solution X-ray scattering and cryo-TEM, we found that with progressive increase of spermine concentration tubulin dimers assembled into conical-frustum-spirals of increasing length, containing up to three helical turns. The subunits with three helical turns were then assembled into tubules through base-to-top packing and formed antiparallel bundles of tubulin conical-spiral tubules in a distorted hexagonal symmetry. Further increase of the spermine concentration led to inverted tubulin tubules assembled in hexagonal bundles. Time-resolved experiments revealed that tubulin assemblies formed at higher spermine concentrations assembled from intermediates, similar to those formed at low spermine concentrations. These results are distinct from the classical transition between twisted ribbons, helical, and tubular assemblies, and provide insight into the versatile morphologies that tubulin can form. Furthermore, they may contribute to our understanding of the interactions that control the composition and construction of protein-based biomaterials.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. EMBL-User (EMBL-User)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P12 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2021

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Database coverage:
; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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