Journal of Cell Science, Vol 107, Issue 3 661-672, Copyright © 1994 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Identification of a novel microtubule-binding domain in microtubule-associated protein 1A (MAP1A)

A Cravchik, D Reddy and A Matus
Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Basel, Switzerland.

Several microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) have been shown to bind to microtubules via short sequences with repeated amino acids motifs. A microtubule-binding domain has hitherto not been defined for the adult brain microtubule-associated protein 1A (MAP1A). We have searched for a microtubule-binding domain by expressing different protein regions of MAP1A in cultured cell lines using cDNA constructs. One construct included an area with homology to the microtubule-binding domain of MAP1B (Noble et al. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 109, 437-448), but this did not bind to microtubules in transfected cells. Further investigation of other areas of MAP1A revealed a protein domain, capable of autonomously binding to microtubules, which bears no homology to any previously described microtubule-binding sequence. This MAP1A domain is rich in charged amino acids, as are other mammalian microtubule-binding domains, but unlike them has no identifiable sequence repeats. Whereas all previously described mammalian microtubule-binding domains are basic, this novel microtubule-binding domain of MAP1A is acidic. The expression of this polypeptide in cultured cell lines led to a rearrangement of the microtubules in a pattern distinct from that produced by MAP2 or tau, and increased their resistance to treatment with the microtubule depolymerising agent nocodazole. When the MAP1A microtubule-binding domain was co-expressed in cultured cell lines together with MAP2c, the MAP1A microtubule-binding domain was able to bind to the MAP2c-induced microtubule bundles. These results suggest that different microtubule-binding sequences have a common ability to stabilise microtubules but differ in their influence on microtubule arrangement in the cell. This may be significant in neurons, where microtubule-associated proteins with different microtubule-binding sequences are expressed in different cell compartments and at different times during development.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Oishi, H. Okano, and H. Sawa RMD-1, a novel microtubule-associated protein, functions in chromosome segregation in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Cell Biol., December 17, 2007; 179(6): 1149 - 1162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Orban-Nemeth, H. Simader, S. Badurek, A. Trancikova, and F. Propst Microtubule-associated Protein 1S, a Short and Ubiquitously Expressed Member of the Microtubule-associated Protein 1 Family J. Biol. Chem., January 21, 2005; 280(3): 2257 - 2265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Noiges, R. Eichinger, W. Kutschera, I. Fischer, Z. Nemeth, G. Wiche, and F. Propst Microtubule-Associated Protein 1A (MAP1A) and MAP1B: Light Chains Determine Distinct Functional Properties J. Neurosci., March 15, 2002; 22(6): 2106 - 2114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V Assmann, D Jenkinson, J. Marshall, and I. Hart The intracellular hyaluronan receptor RHAMM/IHABP interacts with microtubules and actin filaments J. Cell Sci., January 11, 1999; 112(22): 3943 - 3954. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Togel, G. Wiche, and F. Propst Novel Features of the Light Chain of Microtubule-associated Protein MAP1B: Microtubule Stabilization, Self Interaction, Actin Filament Binding, and Regulation by the Heavy Chain J. Cell Biol., November 2, 1998; 143(3): 695 - 707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Brenman, J. R. Topinka, E. C. Cooper, A. W. McGee, J. Rosen, T. Milroy, H. J. Ralston, and D. S. Bredt Localization of Postsynaptic Density-93 to Dendritic Microtubules and Interaction with Microtubule-Associated Protein 1A J. Neurosci., November 1, 1998; 18(21): 8805 - 8813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L Ferhat, A Represa, A Bernard, Y Ben-Ari, and M Khrestchatisky MAP2d promotes bundling and stabilization of both microtubules and microfilaments J. Cell Sci., January 5, 1996; 109(5): 1095 - 1103. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J Ferralli, T Doll, and A Matus Sequence analysis of MAP2 function in living cells J. Cell Sci., January 11, 1994; 107(11): 3115 - 3125. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. R. Taylor, A. K. Holzer, J. F. Bazan, C. A. Walsh, and J. G. Gleeson Patient Mutations in Doublecortin Define a Repeated Tubulin-binding Domain J. Biol. Chem., October 27, 2000; 275(44): 34442 - 34450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Bonnet, D. Boucher, S. Lazereg, B. Pedrotti, K. Islam, P. Denoulet, and J. C. Larcher Differential Binding Regulation of Microtubule-associated Proteins MAP1A, MAP1B, and MAP2 by Tubulin Polyglutamylation J. Biol. Chem., April 13, 2001; 276(16): 12839 - 12848. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]