Tubulin tyrosination is a major factor affecting the recruitment of CAP-Gly proteins at microtubule plus ends

J Cell Biol. 2006 Sep 11;174(6):839-49. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200512058. Epub 2006 Sep 5.

Abstract

Tubulin-tyrosine ligase (TTL), the enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a C-terminal tyrosine residue to alpha-tubulin in the tubulin tyrosination cycle, is involved in tumor progression and has a vital role in neuronal organization. We show that in mammalian fibroblasts, cytoplasmic linker protein (CLIP) 170 and other microtubule plus-end tracking proteins comprising a cytoskeleton-associated protein glycine-rich (CAP-Gly) microtubule binding domain such as CLIP-115 and p150 Glued, localize to the ends of tyrosinated microtubules but not to the ends of detyrosinated microtubules. In vitro, the head domains of CLIP-170 and of p150 Glued bind more efficiently to tyrosinated microtubules than to detyrosinated polymers. In TTL-null fibroblasts, tubulin detyrosination and CAP-Gly protein mislocalization correlate with defects in both spindle positioning during mitosis and cell morphology during interphase. These results indicate that tubulin tyrosination regulates microtubule interactions with CAP-Gly microtubule plus-end tracking proteins and provide explanations for the involvement of TTL in tumor progression and in neuronal organization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dynactin Complex
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / ultrastructure
  • Interphase / physiology
  • Mice
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / ultrastructure
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Peptide Synthases / genetics
  • Peptide Synthases / metabolism
  • Polymers / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism
  • Spindle Apparatus / ultrastructure
  • Tubulin / metabolism*
  • Tyrosine / metabolism*

Substances

  • Dctn1 protein, mouse
  • Dynactin Complex
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Polymers
  • Tubulin
  • cytoplasmic linker protein 115
  • cytoplasmic linker protein 170
  • Tyrosine
  • Peptide Synthases
  • tubulin polyglutamylase