Structure of the Kinesin13-Microtubule Ring Complex

Dongyan Tan, William J. Rice, Hernando Sosa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

To investigate the mechanism of kinesin13-induced microtubule depolymerization, we have calculated a three-dimensional (3D) map of the kinesin13-microtubule ring complex, using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and image analysis. An atomic model of the complex was produced by docking the crystal structures of tubulin and a kinesin13 motor domain (MD) into the 3D map. The model reveals a snapshot of the depolymerization mechanism by providing a 3D view of the complex formed between the kinesin13 MD and a curved tubulin protofilament (pf). It suggests that contacts mediated by kinesin13 class-specific residues in the putative microtubule-binding site stabilize intra-dimer tubulin curvature. In addition, a tubulin-binding site on the kinesin13 MD was identified. Mutations at this class-conserved site selectively disrupt the formation of microtubule-associated ring complexes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1732-1739
Number of pages8
JournalStructure
Volume16
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 12 2008

Keywords

  • CELLBIO
  • PROTEINS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

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