Site-specific chemistry on the microtubule polymer

Ralph E. Kleiner, Shih Chieh Ti, Tarun M. Kapoor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microtubules are hollow tube-like biological polymers required for transport in diverse cellular contexts and are important drug targets. Microtubule function depends on interactions with associated proteins and post-translational modifications at specific sites located on its interior and exterior surfaces. However, we lack strategies to selectively perturb or probe these basic biochemical mechanisms. In this work, by combining amber suppression-mediated non-natural amino acid incorporation and tubulin overexpression in budding yeast, we demonstrate, for the first time, a general strategy for site-specific chemistry on microtubules. Probes and labels targeted to precise sites on the interior and exterior surfaces of microtubules will allow analysis and modulation of interactions with proteins and drugs, and elucidation of the functions of post-translational modifications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12520-12523
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume135
Issue number34
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 28 2013
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Biochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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