Abstract
MCAK is a member of the kinesin-13 family of microtubule (MT)-depolymerizing kinesins. We show that the potent MT depolymerizer MCAK tracks (treadmills) with the tips of polymerizing MTs in living cells. Tip tracking of MCAK is inhibited by phosphorylation and is dependent on the extreme COOH-terminal tail of MCAK. Tip tracking is not essential for MCAK's MT-depolymerizing activity. We propose that tip tracking is a mechanism by which MCAK is preferentially localized to regions of the cell that modulate the plus ends of MTs.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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CHO Cells
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Cell Compartmentation / physiology*
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Cell Polarity / physiology*
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Cricetinae
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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HeLa Cells
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Humans
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Kinesins / metabolism*
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Microscopy, Video
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Microtubules / metabolism*
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Microtubules / ultrastructure
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Phosphorylation
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Polymers / metabolism
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Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
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Protein Transport / physiology
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
Substances
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KIF2C protein, human
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Polymers
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Kinesins