The Microtubules

Dr. Ferran Valderrama

fvalderr@sgul.ac.uk
 Microtubules

 Structure

 Polymerization

 Organization and
Function

2 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL

 Structure of the microtubules

• Hollow tubes made up from the protein

tubulin
• Relatively stiff (25nm), is the thicker of
the filaments
• Each filament is polarized (i.e. has
direction – head/tail or +/-)
• It is a dynamic structure
– Assemble and disassemble in response to
cell needs
• tubulin in cell is roughly 50:50 as free or in filament
• i.e. very different from the stable cytoplasmic
intermediate filaments

3 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL

 Polymerization of microtubules
• Microtubule organizing centre
(MTOC) are specialized protein
complexes from where
assembly of tubulin units starts.
• Centrosome (in the perinuclear
region) is the MTOC in most of
the cells
– Contains g-tubulin ring that
initiates the microtubule growth.
• Heterodimers of a and b
tubulin constitute the
microtubule.
• It is a polarized growth (i.e.
there is an end that grows
faster (+end) than the other (-
4 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL
end).
 Polymerization of microtubules
• Microtubule organizing centre
(MTOC) are specialized protein
complexes from where assembly of
tubulin units starts.
• Centrosome (in the perinuclear
region) is the MTOC in most of the
cells
– Contains g-tubulin ring that
initiates the microtubule
growth.
• Heterodimers of a and b tubulin
constitute the microtubule.
• It is a polarized growth (i.e. there is
an end that grows faster (+end)
than the other (- end).

5 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL

 Functions of microtubules
• intracellular transport
– act like railway tracks on which molecular motors run
– different motors for different cargoes
– directionality of filaments is vital (each motor only moves in one
direction)
• organises position of organelles
– hence, provides polarisation of cells
– directionality of filaments is vital

6 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL

 Functions of microtubules
• intracellular transport
– act like railway tracks on which molecular motors run
– different motors for different cargoes
– directionality of filaments is vital (each motor only moves in one
direction)
• organises position of organelles
– hence, provides polarisation of cells
– directionality of filaments is vital

7 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL

 Functions of microtubules
• intracellular transport
– act like railway tracks on which molecular motors run.
– different motors for different cargoes.
– directionality of filaments is vital (each motor only moves in one
direction).
• organises position of organelles
– hence, provides polarisation of cells.
– directionality of filaments is vital.

8 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL

 Functions of microtubules

• Rhythmic beating of cilia and

flagella
– Motile processes, with highly
organized microtubule core.
– Core consist of 9 pairs of
microtubules around 2 central
microtubule (axoneme).
– Bending of cilia & flagella is
driven by the motor protein
Dynein.
– The basal body, at the base of
the tubule, controls the
assembly of the axoneme.
9 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL
 Functions of microtubules

• Examples:
– Cilia in the
respiratory tract,
sweeping mucus
and debris from
lungs
– Flagella on
spermatozoa

10 Dr Ferran Valderrama - Biomedical Sciences - SGUL

The Microtubules

Dr. Ferran Valderrama

fvalderr@sgul.ac.uk