Biological complexity: A pore is made in vitro (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, December 21, 2020, 19:18 (1433 days ago) @ David Turell

Its complex shape is now known:

https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-gamma-tubulin-complex-vitro.html

"Researchers from the Microtubule Organization lab,... have achieved the first in vitro reconstitution of the human -tubulin ring complex (γTuRC), responsible for initiating microtubule formation. In addition, they revealed its 3-D structure by cryo-electron microscopy. The key to their success lies in the identification of the RUVBL protein complex as an essential γTuRC assembly helper.

***

"Microtubules are a component of the cytoskeleton, which is essential for intracellular transport processes and cell division. Microtubules cannot form spontaneously in cells but require nucleation by the γTuRC. Mutations in γTuRC subunits cause neurodevelopmental defects such as microcephaly and have also been linked to defects in the retina.

"Although the γTuRC was discovered 25 years ago, the field had not been successful in producing it recombinantly in vitro," says co-corresponding author Jens Lüders, "this new achievement opens the door to studies aimed at elucidating the microtubule nucleation mechanism and how it is regulated".

***

"'Our group has been exploring the function of RUVBL in the assembly of large macromolecular structures relevant to cancer for years. Discovering that RUVBL is also essential for the formation of γTuRC opens new avenues of research to understand how cells build complex functional structures," says co-corresponding author Oscar Llorca.

"' γTuRC is a very large structure built by multiple and interconnected subunits. Determining its 3-D architecture has been an immense challenge, made possible by advances in cryo-electron microscopy methods that allowed us to observe individual molecules of this complex with extremely high detail ", explains co-first author Marina Serna."

Comment: Look at the video in the article and tell me with honesty chance did this.