Tubulin and FtsZ structures: functional and therapeutic implications

Bioessays. 1998 Jul;20(7):523-7. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-1878(199807)20:7<523::AID-BIES1>3.0.CO;2-L.

Abstract

The microtubule cytoskeleton has lagged nearly a decade behind the actin cytoskeleton with respect to structural information on the basic polymer subunit. This structural inferiority complex has finally been lifted by two recent papers describing the structures of the alpha beta tubulin dimer and FtsZ, a protein similar to tubulin that is essential for cell division in prokaryotes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins*
  • Dimerization
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Paclitaxel / metabolism
  • Prokaryotic Cells
  • Protein Conformation
  • Tubulin / chemistry*
  • Tubulin / physiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • FtsZ protein, Bacteria
  • Tubulin
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • Paclitaxel