F
IPR007259

Gamma-tubulin complex component protein

InterPro entry
Short nameGCP
Overlapping
homologous
superfamilies
 

Description

The microtubule organizing centres (MTOCs) of eukaryotic cells are the sites of nucleation of microtubules, and are known as the centrosome in animal cells and the spindle pole body in yeast. Gamma-tubulin, which is 30% identical to alpha and beta tubulins that form microtubules, appears to be a key protein involved in nucleation of microtubules.

Gamma tubulin can assemble into complexes of various sizes with members of the GCP family. In budding yeast, the gamma tubulin-containing small complex (gammaTuSC) contains gamma tubulin, GCP2 and GCP3 (also known as Spc97 and Spc98). In Drosophila and vertebrates, gamma tubulin forms much larger assemblies, termed gamma-tubulin ring complexes (gammaTuRCs), with gamma tubulin, GCP2, GCP3, GCP4, GCP5 and GCP6. The purified gammaTuSC and gammaTuRC complexes exhibit a 'lock washer' shape
[1]
. However, the purified gammaTuSC has been shown to have a much lower microtubule-nucleating activity than intact gammaTuRC
[3]
. Several models have been proposed to explain their assembly and nucleation mechanism
[2]
.

References

1.A ring for all: γ-tubulin-containing nucleation complexes in acentrosomal plant microtubule arrays. Hashimoto T. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 16, 698-703, (2013). View articlePMID: 24075308

2.Microtubule nucleation by γ-tubulin complexes. Kollman JM, Merdes A, Mourey L, Agard DA. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 12, 709-21, (2011). View articlePMID: 21993292

3.The where, when and how of microtubule nucleation - one ring to rule them all. Teixido-Travesa N, Roig J, Luders J. J. Cell. Sci. 125, 4445-56, (2012). View articlePMID: 23132930

Further reading

4. Characterization and reconstitution of Drosophila gamma-tubulin ring complex subunits. Gunawardane RN, Martin OC, Cao K, Zhang L, Dej K, Iwamatsu A, Zheng Y. J. Cell Biol. 151, 1513-24, (2000). View articlePMID: 11134079

5. Reconstitution and characterization of budding yeast gamma-tubulin complex. Vinh DB, Kern JW, Hancock WO, Howard J, Davis TN. Mol. Biol. Cell 13, 1144-57, (2002). View articlePMID: 11950928

GO terms

Contributing Member Database Entry
This website requires cookies, and the limited processing of your personal data in order to function. By using the site you are agreeing to this as outlined in our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.