Microtubule Disassembly, Tau Protein
by Anatomical Travelogue
Title
Microtubule Disassembly, Tau Protein
Artist
Anatomical Travelogue
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Medical visualization showing the disassembly of a microtubule and the creation of a tau protein tangle. Microtubules are a structural part of a cell, found in the cytoplasm. They are essential for cell movement and structure. Microtubules are hollow and made up of polymerized proteins called tubulin (shown in blue and purple). The disassembly of these proteins is called depolymerization. Microtubules can go through constant cycles of growth and shrinkage, however the frequency of depolymerization depends on how often GTP (a nucleotide that binds with tubulin) is hydrolyzed. GTP hydrolysis occurs after polymerization, and converts GTP (an active bond) into GDP (an inactive bond). GTP bonds are necessary for polymerization and are linked to the cellular functions that microtubules carry out. GDP bonds are present during depolymerization. If the rate of GTP hydrolysis is higher than the polymerization process, the microtubule will become unstable and shrink in size. This image shows the depolymerizing microtubules producing tangled fibers consisting of the tau protein (shown in tan). Tau proteins help to stabilize microtubules, and isolated tangles of tao within the body are linked to decreased neurological function. Microtubules as a whole play an important role in neural function, and unstable microtubules can negatively impact brain activity. This instability has been linked to many neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Uploaded
September 25th, 2018
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