Abstract
Microtubules (MTs) are ubiquitous components of neuronal processes, and although they have been implicated in neurite outgrowth, shape maintenance, axonal transport, and sensory transduction, their function remains unclear (for review, see Porter 1966; Wuerker and Kirkpatrick 1972; Dustin 1978; Bray and Gilbert 1981; Lasek and Shelanski 1981). The MTs in the neurons of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have unusual structures that permit a comparative approach to the relationship of microtubule structure and function. A set of six touch-receptor neurons (the microtubule cells) (Chalfie and Thomson 1979) contain prominent arrays of large MTs. These MTs have more protofilaments than do MTs in other neurons (15 as opposed to 11), and they respond differently to antimicrotubule drugs, fixation protocols, temperature, and mutation. Studies of C. elegans neurotubules (Chalfie and Thomson 1979 and in prep.) suggest that most MT functions do not require long, continuous MTs or MTs with a specific number of...
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