Cell Biology

Accessibility of the unstructured α-tubulin C-terminal tail is controlled by microtubule lattice conformation

1. Takashi Hotta
2. Morgan L Pimm
3. Ezekiel C Thomas
4. Yang Yue
5. Patrick DeLear
6. Lynne Blasius
7. Michael A Cianfrocco
8. Morgan E DeSantis
9. Ryota Horiuchi
10. Takumi Higaki
11. David Sept
12. Ryoma Ohi
13. Kristen J Verhey

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This fundamental work reveals that the accessibility of the unstructured C-terminal tail of α-tubulin differs with the state of the microtubule lattice. Accessibility increases with the expansion of the lattice induced by GTP and certain MAPs, which can then dictate the subsequent interactions between MAPs and microtubules, and post-translational modifications of tubulin tails. The evidence supporting the conclusion is compelling, although the characterisation of the probes does not answer whether they directly affect the lattice or expose the C-terminal tail of α-tubulin. The probes can be used as tools in the future to study differences in microtubule lattice regulation under different conditions both in vitro and in vivo. This work will be of great interest to the cytoskeleton field.

Reviewed by eLife

KANK2 at focal adhesions regulates their maintenance and dynamics, while at fibrillar adhesions it influences cell migration via microtubule-dependent mechanism

1. Nikolina Stojanović
2. Anja Rac
3. Marija Lončarić
4. Ana Tadijan
5. Mladen Paradžik
6. Marta Acman
7. Jonathan D. Humphries
8. Martin J. Humphries
9. Andreja Ambriović-Ristov

Reviewed by preLights

Centrosome Migration and Apical Membrane Formation in Polarized Epithelial Cells: Insights from the MDCK Cyst Model

1. Po-Kai Wang
2. Keng-Hui Lin
3. Tang K Tang

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important study contributes to our understanding of how epithelial cells establish polarity by identifying a hierarchy in which Par3 acts upstream of centrosome positioning and apical membrane initiation. The evidence supporting the main conclusions is convincing, although several aspects of the model remain only partially supported due to unresolved questions about microtubule organization and the need for clearer integration of quantitative and conceptual points raised in review. The work will be of interest to cell and developmental biologists, but the conclusions would be strengthened by greater precision in methodology, terminology, and interpretation.

Reviewed by eLife