Axons and dendrites of neurons differ in the polarity orientation of their microtubules. Whereas the polarity orientation of microtubules in axons is uniform, with all plus ends distal, that in dendrites is nonuniform. The mechanisms responsible for establishment and maintenance of microtubule polarity orientation in neuronal processes remain unclear, however. We previously described a culture ...

Interleukin (IL)-7 is the main homeostatic regulator of CD4 T-lymphocytes (helper) at both central and peripheral levels. Upon activation by IL-7, several signaling pathways, mainly JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt and MAPK, induce the expression of genes involved in T-cell differentiation, activation, and proliferation. We have analyzed the early events of CD4 T-cell activation by IL-7. We have shown that I...

Charasomes are convoluted plasma membrane domains in the green alga Chara australis. They harbor H(+)-ATPases involved in acidification of the medium, which facilitates carbon uptake required for photosynthesis. In this study we investigated the distribution of cortical microtubules and cortical actin filaments in relation to the distribution of charasomes. We found that microtubules and actin ...

The protein kinase inhibitor 2-aminopurine induces checkpoint override and mitotic exit in BHK cells which have been arrested in mitosis by inhibitors of microtubule function (Andreassen, P. R., and R. L. Margolis. 1991. J. Cell Sci. 100:299-310). Mitotic exit is monitored by loss of MPM-2 antigen, by the reformation of nuclei, and by the extinction of p34cdc2-dependent H1 kinase activity. 2-AP...

Banan, A., J. Z. Fields, Y. Zhang, and A. Keshavarzian. Key role of PKC and Ca21 in EGF protection of microtubules and intestinal barrier against oxidants. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 280: G828–G843, 2001.—Using monolayers of human intestinal (Caco-2) cells, we showed that growth factors (GFs) protect microtubules and barrier integrity against oxidative injury. Studies in nongastroi...

Microtubules, the active filaments with tubular shapes, play important roles in a wide range of cellular functions, including structural supports, mitosis, cytokinesis, and vesicular transport, which are essential for the growth and division of eukaryotic cells. Finding properties of microtubules is one of the main concerns of scientists. This work helps to obtain mechanical properties of m...

Microtubule-targeting agents are widely used as clinical drugs in the treatment of cancer. However, some kinase inhibitors can also disrupt microtubule organization by directly binding to tubulin. These unexpected effects may result in a plethora of harmful events and/or a misinterpretation of the experimental results. Thus, further studies are needed to understand these dual inhibitors. In thi...

in human fertilization, the sperm centrosome nucleates a radial array of microtubules called the sperm aster. the sperm aster is responsible for apposition of male and female pronuclei, and later gives rise to the first meiotic spindle. the objective of this study was to determine microtubule assembly and chromatin configuration in rabbit oocytes following intracytoplasmic injection with human ...