Biomaterial Database

Dynamic instability of microtubules from cold-living fishes. 1994

M Billger, and M Wallin, and R C Williams, and H W Detrich

Department of Zoophysiology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.

The dynamic instability of microtubules free of microtubule-associated proteins from two genera of cold-living fishes was measured, by means of video-enhanced differential-interference-contrast microscopy, at temperatures near those of their habitats. Brain microtubules were isolated from the boreal Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua; habitat temperature approximately 2-15 degrees C) and from two austral Antarctic rockcods (Notothenia gibberifrons and N. coriiceps neglecta; habitat temperature approximately -1.8 to + 2 degrees C). Critical concentrations for polymerization of the fish tubulins were in the neighborhood of 1 mg/ml, consistent with high interdimer affinities. Rates of elongation and frequencies of growth-to-shortening transitions ("catastrophes") for fish microtubules were significantly smaller than those for mammalian microtubules. Slow dynamics is therefore an intrinsic property of these fish tubulins, presumably reflecting their adaptation to low temperatures. Two-dimensional electrophoresis showed striking differences between the isoform compositions of the cod and the rockcod tubulins, which suggests that the cold-adapted microtubule phenotypes of northern and southern fishes may have arisen independently.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008857	Microscopy, Interference	The science and application of a double-beam transmission interference microscope in which the illuminating light beam is split into two paths. One beam passes through the specimen while the other beam reflects off a reference mirror before joining and interfering with the other. The observed optical path difference between the two beams can be measured and used to discriminate minute differences in thickness and refraction of non-stained transparent specimens, such as living cells in culture.	Interferometry, Microscopic,Microinterferometry,Microscopy, Differential Interference Contrast,Microscopy, Interference Reflection,Microscopy, Nomarski Interference Contrast,Interference Microscopy,Interference Reflection Microscopy,Microscopic Interferometry,Reflection Microscopy, Interference
D008870	Microtubules	Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS.	Microtubule
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D005399	Fishes	A group of cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates having gills, fins, a cartilaginous or bony endoskeleton, and elongated bodies covered with scales.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014404	Tubulin	A microtubule subunit protein found in large quantities in mammalian brain. It has also been isolated from SPERM FLAGELLUM; CILIA; and other sources. Structurally, the protein is a dimer with a molecular weight of approximately 120,000 and a sedimentation coefficient of 5.8S. It binds to COLCHICINE; VINCRISTINE; and VINBLASTINE.	alpha-Tubulin,beta-Tubulin,delta-Tubulin,epsilon-Tubulin,gamma-Tubulin,alpha Tubulin,beta Tubulin,delta Tubulin,epsilon Tubulin,gamma Tubulin
D015180	Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional	Electrophoresis in which a second perpendicular electrophoretic transport is performed on the separate components resulting from the first electrophoresis. This technique is usually performed on polyacrylamide gels.	Gel Electrophoresis, Two-Dimensional,Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, Two-Dimensional,2-D Gel Electrophoresis,2-D Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,2D Gel Electrophoresis,2D PAGE,2D Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,Electrophoresis, Gel, 2-D,Electrophoresis, Gel, 2D,Electrophoresis, Gel, Two Dimensional,Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, 2-D,Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, 2D,Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis,2 D Gel Electrophoresis,2 D Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,Electrophoresis, 2-D Gel,Electrophoresis, 2D Gel,Electrophoresis, Two-Dimensional Gel,Gel Electrophoresis, 2-D,Gel Electrophoresis, 2D,Gel Electrophoresis, Two Dimensional,PAGE, 2D,Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, 2 D,Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, Two Dimensional,Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis
D018715	Microscopy, Video	Microscopy in which television cameras are used to brighten magnified images that are otherwise too dark to be seen with the naked eye. It is used frequently in TELEPATHOLOGY.	Video Microscopy,Videomicrography,Videomicroscopy,Microscopies, Video,Video Microscopies,Videomicrographies,Videomicroscopies