Biology 2382B Lecture 10: CELLBIOLECTURE10SECTION1cont.
8 Mar 2017
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Lecture 10 - microtubules organization - centrosome section 1 cont. Centrosome is the main microtubule organizing centre in animal cells. Not the only one but almost all animal cells have this. Barrel shaped structures made up from triplet microtubules. Do not play a direct role in polymerizing the cytoplasmic microtubules. Many other proteins of unknown function are found in the centrosome. These proteins are somehow responsible for polymerizing the cytoplasmic microtubules that grow from the centrosome. Gamma tubulin ring complex caps minus end. Plants do not have centrosomes therefore they do not have centrioles. Microtubule assembly and disassembly occur preferentially at the plus (+) end. Preferential addition and loss of tubulin at the plus (+) end. The centre of something of which you are going to grow something else. Gamma tubulin ring complex acts as a nuclear agent. A small group of microtubules can also act as a nucleating agent. Nucleating agent of a specific size cannot grow or shrink.
