Authors
Eva Nogales, Michael Whittaker, Ronald A Milligan, Kenneth H Downing
Publication date
1999/1/8
Journal
Cell
Volume
96
Issue
1
Pages
79-88
Publisher
Elsevier
Description
A high-resolution model of the microtubule has been obtained by docking the crystal structure of tubulin into a 20 Å map of the microtubule. The excellent fit indicates the similarity of the tubulin conformation in both polymers and defines the orientation of the tubulin structure within the microtubule. Long C-terminal helices form the crest on the outside of the protofilament, while long loops define the microtubule lumen. The exchangeable nucleotide in β-tubulin is exposed at the plus end of the microtubule, while the proposed catalytic residue in α-tubulin is exposed at the minus end. Extensive longitudinal interfaces between monomers have polar and hydrophobic components. At the lateral contacts, a nucleotide-sensitive helix interacts with a loop that contributes to the binding site of taxol in β-tubulin.
Total citations
Scholar articles
E Nogales, M Whittaker, RA Milligan, KH Downing - Cell, 1999