THE MICROTUBULE PROTEOME: A ROLE IN REGULATING PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND IMPORT INTO ORGANELLES?

摘要

Microtubules (MTs) are dynamic components of plant cells, and are organized into four major arrays. The growth and organization of MTs in these arrays is regulated by a group of structural proteins called the microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). A number of MAPs have been identified in plants, some of which are plant-specific. Another group of MT-binding proteins that are well represented in plants are the kinesin-related motor proteins. A third and more loosely defined group of proteins that bind to MTs are the MT-interacting proteins. Binding of these proteins to MTs can serve to concentrate the protein, to regulate the activity of the protein, or to serve other functions. Numerous putative MT-interacting proteins were identified in two large-scaled studies. A group of proteins that were represented in one of these studies were peroxisomal matrix proteins. The MT and RNA binding activity of these peroxisomal proteins has led to a model that links MTs to protein synthesis and targeting of these proteins to peroxisomes.