Abstract
Alkaline pH favors the assembly of microtubules (MTs) in marine egg extracts [Suprenant and Marsh, 1987: J. Cell Sci. 184:167-180; Suprenant, 1989: Exp. Cell Res. 184:167-180; 1991: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 19:207-220] and mammalian brain extracts [Tiwari and Suprenant, 1993: Anal. Biochem. 215:96-103], even though the assembly of purified microtubule protein (MTP) from both of these sources is favored at slightly acidic pH. The present investigation examines whether alkaline pH has a direct or indirect effect on MT nucleation and growth in soluble brain extracts. Cell-free extracts were prepared from bovine cerebral cortex, and a nucleated assembly assay was used to demonstrate that MT assembly in brain extracts is favored at slightly acidic pH. The increase in MT mass found at alkaline pH is due to an increase in the solubility of tubulin not an increase in the extent of assembly. On average, 47.7 +/- 11.3% of the total tubulin is soluble at pH 7.2, while only 30.9 +/- 8.9% of the tubulin is soluble at pH 6.8. A model is proposed that indicates how microtubule proteins from both mammalian brain and marine eggs may be associated with pH-dependent factors.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
