1. Academic Validation
  2. Asymmetric CLASP-dependent nucleation of noncentrosomal microtubules at the trans-Golgi network

Asymmetric CLASP-dependent nucleation of noncentrosomal microtubules at the trans-Golgi network

  • Dev Cell. 2007 Jun;12(6):917-30. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2007.04.002.
Andrey Efimov 1 Alexey Kharitonov Nadia Efimova Jadranka Loncarek Paul M Miller Natalia Andreyeva Paul Gleeson Niels Galjart Ana R R Maia Ian X McLeod John R Yates 3rd Helder Maiato Alexey Khodjakov Anna Akhmanova Irina Kaverina
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Abstract

Proper organization of microtubule arrays is essential for intracellular trafficking and cell motility. It is generally assumed that most if not all microtubules in vertebrate somatic cells are formed by the centrosome. Here we demonstrate that a large number of microtubules in untreated human cells originate from the Golgi apparatus in a centrosome-independent manner. Both centrosomal and Golgi-emanating microtubules need gamma-tubulin for nucleation. Additionally, formation of microtubules at the Golgi requires CLASPs, microtubule-binding proteins that selectively coat noncentrosomal microtubule seeds. We show that CLASPs are recruited to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) at the Golgi periphery by the TGN protein GCC185. In sharp contrast to radial centrosomal arrays, microtubules nucleated at the peripheral Golgi compartment are preferentially oriented toward the leading edge in motile cells. We propose that Golgi-emanating microtubules contribute to the asymmetric microtubule networks in polarized cells and support diverse processes including post-Golgi transport to the cell front.

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