Final Report Summary - PLUSTIPS (In vitro reconstitution of the S. pombe interphase microtubule cytoskeleton)
This project explored processes governed by microtubule (MT) plus end accumulating proteins (+TIPs) and interdependencies between these proteins for their localisation. Specifically, we investigated the MT-cytoskeleton of the S. pombe, which is an established model for MT-plus end studies. We focussed on the interactions of a specific class of MT-motors (molecular motor proteins that can walk along MT-tracks), the kinesin-8s. These were recently shown to have the unique ability to have plus end directed motility and MT-plus end depolymerising activity. This means that they are able to walk along a growing MT, accumulate at the plus end, and induce MT depolymerisation. This would result in a length dependency, which would favour depolymerisation of longer MTs.