Submembraneous microtubule cytoskeleton: regulation of microtubule assembly by heterotrimeric Gproteins

FEBS J. 2008 Oct;275(19):4654-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06614.x. Epub 2008 Aug 27.

Abstract

Heterotrimeric Gproteins participate in signal transduction by transferring signals from cell surface receptors to intracellular effector molecules. Gproteins also interact with microtubules and participate in microtubule-dependent centrosome/chromosome movement during cell division, as well as neuronal differentiation. In recent years, significant progress has been made in our understanding of the biochemical/functional interactions between Gprotein subunits (alpha and betagamma) and microtubules, and the molecular details emerging from these studies suggest that alpha and betagamma subunits of Gproteins interact with tubulin/microtubules to regulate the assembly/dynamics of microtubules, providing a novel mechanism for hormone- or neurotransmitter-induced rapid remodeling of cytoskeleton, regulation of the mitotic spindle for centrosome/chromosome movements in cell division, and neuronal differentiation in which structural plasticity mediated by microtubules is important for appropriate synaptic connections and signal transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Division
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / physiology
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / physiology
  • GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits / physiology
  • GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / physiology
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Microtubules / physiology*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spindle Apparatus / physiology
  • Spindle Apparatus / ultrastructure
  • Tubulin / physiology

Substances

  • GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits
  • GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits
  • Tubulin
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins