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Figure 2

Nature Cell Biology  2, E11 - E12 (2000)
doi:10.1038/71394

A dynamic duo of microtubule modulators

Rebecca Heald
 
Fig 2 full size
Figure 2. Shrink globally, act locally.
Thin lines indicate microtubules; bold lines identify XMAP215-coated microtubules; blue identifies chromosomes. The model assumes that microtubule-destabilizing factors such as XKCM1 (not shown) are constitutively active, while stabilizing microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) such as XMAP215 are regulated, probably by phosphorylation which reduces XMAP215's ability to stabilize microtubules. During interphase MAPs are active, resulting in long, stable microtubules. At the transition from interphase to prophase, MAP binding to microtubules is reduced and microtubules shrink. During spindle assembly (metaphase), MAPs are locally activated to bind and stabilize spindle microtubules, perhaps by factors in mitotic chromosomes, while astral microtubules maintain prophase-like dynamics.

 
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