Tubulin is the protein which makes up microtubules. Microtubules are assembled from dimers of α- and β-tubulin. Each of these subunits has three domains. γ-tubulin is important in the nucleation and polar orientation of microtubule. Tubulin binds GTP and assembles onto the (+) ends of microtubules in the GTP-bound state. Once assembled into microtubules, it hydrolyzes GTP into GDP. The GDP-bound form of tubulin will disassemble from the tip of a microtubule, though it will not spontaneously fall out of the middle. This GTP cycle is essential for the dynamic instability of the microtubule. Tubulin Taken from http://www. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... Microtubules are protein structures found within cells. ... Sucrose, or common table sugar, is composed of glucose and fructose. ... Within a protein, a structural domain (domain) is an element of overall structure that is self-stabilizing and often folds independently of the rest of the protein chain. ... Bubbles in a soft drink each nucleate independently, responing to a decrease in pressure. ... GTP (also known as guanylyl imidodiphosphate, guanosine-5-triphosphate, or guanosine triphosphate) is a chemical compound (nucleotide) that is incorporated into the growing RNA chain during synthesis of RNA and used as a source of energy during synthesis of proteins. ... Microtubules are protein structures found within cells. ...

Tubulin was long thought to be specific to eukaryotes. Recently, however, the prokaryotic cell division protein FtsZ was shown to be evolutionarily related to tubulin. Kingdoms Animalia - Animals Fungi Plantae - Plants Protista Eukaryotes (also spelled eucaryotes) are organisms with complex cells, in which the genetic material is organized into membrane-bound nuclei. ... Micrograph and cartoon of FtsZ-GFP fusion (green) and DAPI stained chromosomes (blue) in live cells. ...

Delta and epsilon tubulin have been found to localize at centrioles and may play a role in forming the mitotic spindle during mitosis.

Beta Tubulin has a molecular weight of ~ 55 KDa

Pharmacology

Tubulins are targets for anticancer drugs like taxol. The anti-gout agent colchicine binds to tubulin and inhibits microtubule formation, arresting neutrophil motility and decreasing inflammation. A drug is any substance that can be used to modify a chemical process or processes in the body, for example to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, enhance a performance or ability, or to alter states of mind. ... Paclitaxel is a drug used in the treatment of cancer. ... Colchicine is a highly poisonous alkaloid, originally extracted from plants of the genus Colchicum (Autumn crocus, Meadow saffron). ... Neutrophil granulocytes (commonly referred to as neutrophils) are a class of white blood cells and are part of the immune system. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ...

See also

• Motor protein

This is a list of gene families or gene complexes, that is sets of genes which occur across a number of different species which often serve similar biological functions. ...