Interphase microtubule organisation: Characterisation of newly identified factors involved in polarised organisation of microtubules

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Damian Brunner
• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2003 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5409500

The creation and maintenance of cell morphology is a fundamental problem of every cell. Of central importance is the cell's ability to polarise, which is brought about by the defined arrangement of its actin- and microtubule- cytoskeleton. We use fission yeast to investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling interphase microtubule organisation. The microtubules contribute to the creation of a cylindrical cell shape by positioning the growth sites. The microtubules grow from several sites on the nucleus in the cell centre in opposite directions towards the target regions at the cell ends. This requires the function of the CLIP-170 homologue tip1p, which locates at the growing microtubule tips. Tip1p protects the microtubules from depolymerisiation when they encounter the cell cortex outside their target regions. We intend to identify tip1p interacting proteins by using a combination of systematic proteomics and genetics and to analyse their role in the multiple steps of tip1p function, namely: a) its loading onto microtubule nucleation sites, b) its movement towards and with growing microtubule tips, c) its cortical interactions, d) its dissociation from the microtubules in the target regions, e) its degradation/recycling in the target regions.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1111: Cell Polarity