The Identification of the Tao-1 Kinase as a Key Regulator of Microtubule Dynamics

.................................................................................................... 2 Statement .................................................................................................. 4 Acknowledgements.................................................................................... 5 Table of contents........................................................................................ 7 List of Figures .......................................................................................... 12 List of Tables............................................................................................ 16 List of additional files in attached DVD .................................................... 17 Abbreviations........................................................................................... 18 Thesis Organisation................................................................................. 20 Chapter 1................................................................................................. 21 General Introduction ................................................................................ 21 1.1 Cytoskeleton and Cell morphology................................................. 22 1.2 Actin-based protrusions.................................................................. 23 1.2.1 The lamellipodium formation.................................................... 24 1.2.2 The Filopodia formation ........................................................... 25 1.3 Microtubules and Microtubule dynamic instability .......................... 26 1.3.1 Microtubule structure ............................................................... 26 1.3.2 Microtubule organization in animal cells .................................. 27 1.3.3 Microtubule kinetics and its dynamic instability........................ 29 1.4 Cellular Regulation of Microtubule Instability.................................. 31 1.4.1 Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) – the Yang of microtubules ..................................................................................... 32 1.4.2 Microtubule destablizers – the Yin of microtubules.................. 33