MICROTUBULE ORGANIZATION 1 regulates structure and function of microtubule arrays during mitosis and cytokinesis in the Arabidopsis root

MICROTUBULE ORGANIZATION 1 (MOR1) is a plant member of the highly conserved MAP215/Dis1 family of microtubule-associated proteins. Prior studies with the temperature-sensitive mor1 mutants of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), which harbor single amino acid substitutions in an N-terminal HEAT repeat, proved that MOR1 regulates cortical microtubule organization and function. Here we demonstrate by use of live cell imaging and immunolabeling that the mor1-1 mutation generates specific defects in the microtubule arrays of dividing vegetative cells. Unlike the universal cortical microtubule disorganization in elongating mor1-1 cells, disruption of mitotic and cytokinetic microtubule arrays was not detected in all dividing cells. Nevertheless, quantitative analysis identified distinct defects in preprophase bands (PPBs), spindles, and phragmoplasts. In nearly one-half of dividing cells at the restrictive temperature of 30 degrees C, PPBs were not detected prior to spindle formation, and those that did form were often disrupted. mor1-1 spindles and phragmoplasts were short and abnormally organized and persisted for longer times than in wild-type cells. The reduced length of these arrays predicts that the component microtubule lengths are also reduced, suggesting that microtubule length is a critical determinant of spindle and phragmoplast structure, orientation, and function. Microtubule organizational defects led to aberrant chromosomal arrangements, misaligned or incomplete cell plates, and multinucleate cells. Antiserum raised against an N-terminal MOR1 sequence labeled the full length of microtubules in interphase arrays, PPBs, spindles, and phragmoplasts. Continued immunolabeling of the disorganized and short microtubules of mor1-1 at the restrictive temperature demonstrated that the mutant mor1-1(L174F) protein loses function without dissociating from microtubules, providing important insight into the mechanism by which MOR1 may regulate microtubule length.     

The effects of taxol on microtubular arrays: in vivo effects on heliozoan axonemes

The effects of the antitumor drug taxol on the microtubular axonemes of the heliozoon Actinophrys sol have been investigated. The drug induces polymerization of microtubules as shown by a large increase in the length and number of microtubular arrays. The interaction between microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins is also affected, with the result that the normal geometric patterning within the microtubular arrays is disturbed. This is due to the loss or inactivation of long intermicrotubule links. As a result, arms lose their rigidity. Because the drug stabilizes polymerized microtubules, C-shaped profiles and other signs of poor microtubule preservation are absent in taxol-treated cells.     

Evidence for initiation of microtubules in discrete regions of the cell cortex in Azolla root-tip cells,and an hypothesis on the development of cortical arrays of microtubules

Complexes of microtubules, vesicles, and (to varying degrees) dense matrix material around the microtubules were seen along the edges of cells in root apices of Azolla pinnata R.Br. (viewing the cells as polyhedra with faces, vertices and edges). They are best developed after cytokinesis has been completed, when the daughter cells are reinstating their interphase arrays of microtubules. They are not confined to edges made by the junction of new cell plates with parental walls, but occur also along older edges. Similar matrices and vesicles are seen amongst phragmoplast microtubules and where pre-prophase bands intersect the edges of cells. It is suggested that the complexes participate in the development of cortical arrays of microtubules. The observations are combined with others, made on pre-prophase bands and on the substructure of cortical arrays lying against the faces of cells, to develop an hypothesis on the development of cortical microtubules, summarised below: Microtubules are nucleated along the edges of cells, at first growing in unspecified orientations and then becoming bridged to the plasma membrane. Parallelism of microtubules in the arrays arises by inter-tubule cross-bridging. Lengths of microtubule are released from, or break off, the nucleating centres and are moved out onto the face of the cell by intertubule and tubule-membrane sliding, thus accounting for the presence there of short tubules with randomly placed terminations. The nucleating zones along cell edges might have vectorial properties, and thus be able to control the orientation of the microtubules on the different faces of the cell. Also, localised activation could generate localised arrays, especially pre-prophase bands in specified sites and planes. Two possible reasons for the spatial restriction of nucleation to cell edges are considered. One is that the geometry of an edge is itself important; the other is that along most cell edges there is a persistent specialised zone, inherited at cytokinesis by the daughter cells when the cell plate bisects the former pre-prophase-band zone.     

Disassembly and reconstitution of a membrane-microtubule complex

The cell membrane of the unicellular algae Distigma proteus is associated with arrays of parallel microtubules. Fragments of the membrane-microtubule complex have been isolated and partially purified. The microtubules were stable in vitro at room temperature as well as at 0 degree C, but were specifically and rapidly disassembled by Ca2+. After removal of all endogenous microtubules, the membrane-microtubule complex could be reassembled from brain microtubule protein and denuded Distigma membrane fragments. The readded microtubules bound in a fixed orientation, and only to those regions of membrane that are normally associated with microtubules in vivo.     

Post-translational tubulin modifications in spermatogeneous cells of the pteridophyteCeratopteris richardii

Summary Acetylation and tyrosinization are post-translational modifications of tubulin generally associated, respectively, with highly stable or dynamic microtubule arrays in animals and protists. Little is known of these modifications in land plants, however. We examined the presence and distribution of post-translational tubulin modifications in developing spermatogenous cells of the pteridophyteCeratopteris richardii by immunofluorescence and immunogold, utilizing antibodies specific for acetylated and tyrosinated tubulin. Acetylated tubulin is found in mid to late stage spermatogenous cells in stable microtubule configurations: the spline, flagella, and basal bodies. Tyrosinated tubulin, a modification associated with dynamic microtubule arrays, is also present in these structures as well as all other microtubules in the cell. The lamellar strip of the multilayered structure, a body previously described as tubulin-containing, was not labelled by any of the tubulin antibodies or antiserum. Treatment of cultures with the microtubule stabilizer taxol results in the appearance of new arrays of microtubules, including bundles in the cytoplasm. Only those new taxol-induced microtubule arrays present in mid to late stage cells (i.e., those with other normally acetylated tubulin arrays) have acetylated domains. Younger spermatogenous cells had similar microtubule bundles but no acetylated tubulin. Tyrosinated tubulin was found in all these taxol-stabilized arrays. These data indicate that, although these pteridophyte cells have the ability to acetylate tubulin, that this ability is limited to stages after the final spermatogenous cell mitosis and is limited to the highly stable spline and flagella microtubules.Abbreviations LS lamellar strip of multilayered structure - MTOC microtubule organizing center     

Polarity orientation and assembly process of microtubule bundles in nocodazole-treated, MAP2c-transfected COS cells.

Microtubule bundles reminiscent of those found in neuronal processes are formed in fibroblasts and Sf9 cells that are transfected with the microtubule-associated proteins tau, MAP2, or MAP2c. To analyze the assembly process of these bundles and its relation to the microtubule polarity, we depolymerized the bundles formed in MAP2c-transfected COS cells using nocodazole, and observed the process of assembly of microtubule bundles after removal of the drug in cells microinjected with rhodamine-labeled tubulin. Within minutes of its removal, numerous short microtubule fragments were observed throughout the cytoplasm. These short fragments were randomly oriented and were already bundled. Somewhat longer, but still short bundles, were then found in the peripheral cytoplasm. These bundles became the primordium of the larger bundles, and gradually grew in length and width. The polarity orientation of microtubules in the reformed bundle as determined by "hook" procedure using electron microscope was uniform with the plus end distal to the cell nucleus. The results suggest that some mechanism(s) exists to orient the polarity of microtubules, which are not in direct continuity with the centrosome, during the formation of large bundles. The observed process presents a useful model system for studying the organization of microtubules that are not directly associated with the centrosomes, such as those observed in axons.     

Taxol maintains organized microtubule patterns in protoplasts which lead to the resynthesis of organized cell wall microfibrils

Summary We have investigated the effects of microtubule stabilizing conditions upon microtubule patterns in protoplasts and developed a new method for producing protoplasts which have non-random cortical microtubule arrays. Segments of elongating pea epicotyl tissue were treated with the microtubule stabilizing drug taxol for 1 h before enzymatic digestion of the cell walls in the presence of the drug. Anti-tubulin immunofluorescence showed that 40 M taxol preserved regions of ordered microtubules. The microtubules in these regions were arranged in parallel arrays, although the arrays did not always show the transverse orientation seen in the intact tissue. Protoplasts prepared without taxol had microtubules which were random in distribution. Addition of taxol to protoplasts with random microtubule arrangements did not result in organized microtubule arrays. Taxol-treated protoplasts were used to determine whether or not organized microtubule arrays would affect the organization of cell wall microfibrils as new walls were regenerated. We found that protoplasts from taxol-treated tissue which were allowed to regenerate cell walls produced organized arrays of microfibrils whose patterns matched those of the underlying microtubules. Protoplasts from untreated tissue synthesized microfibrils which were disordered. The synthesis of organized microfibrils by protoplasts with ordered microtubules arrays shows that microtubule arrangements in protoplasts influence the arrangement of newly synthesized microfibrils.Abbreviations DIC differential interference contrast - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - IgG immunoglobulin G - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis[2-ethane-sulfonic acid] - PBS phosphate buffered saline     

Flexural Rigidity Measurements of Biopolymers Using Gliding Assays

Microtubules are cytoskeletal polymers which play a role in cell division, cell mechanics, and intracellular transport. Each of these functions requires microtubules that are stiff and straight enough to span a significant fraction of the cell diameter. As a result, the microtubule persistence length, a measure of stiffness, has been actively studied for the past two decades¹. Nonetheless, open questions remain: short microtubules are 10-50 times less stiff than long microtubules^2-4, and even long microtubules have measured persistence lengths which vary by an order of magnitude^5-9.Here, we present a method to measure microtubule persistence length. The method is based on a kinesin-driven microtubule gliding assay¹⁰. By combining sparse fluorescent labeling of individual microtubules with single particle tracking of individual fluorophores attached to the microtubule, the gliding trajectories of single microtubules are tracked with nanometer-level precision. The persistence length of the trajectories is the same as the persistence length of the microtubule under the conditions used¹¹. An automated tracking routine is used to create microtubule trajectories from fluorophores attached to individual microtubules, and the persistence length of this trajectory is calculated using routines written in IDL.This technique is rapidly implementable, and capable of measuring the persistence length of 100 microtubules in one day of experimentation. The method can be extended to measure persistence length under a variety of conditions, including persistence length as a function of length along microtubules. Moreover, the analysis routines used can be extended to myosin-based acting gliding assays, to measure the persistence length of actin filaments as well.     

A GFP-MAP4 reporter gene for visualizing cortical microtubule rearrangements in living epidermal cells

Microtubules influence morphogenesis by forming distinct geometrical arrays in the cell cortex, which in turn affect the deposition of cellulose microfibrils. Although many chemical and physical factors affect microtubule orientation, it is unclear how cortical microtubules in elongating cells maintain their ordered transverse arrays and how they reorganize into new geometries. To visualize these reorientations in living cells, we constructed a microtubule reporter gene by fusing the microtubule binding domain of the mammalian microtubule-associated protein 4 (MAP4) gene with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, and transient expression of the recombinant protein in epidermal cells of fava bean was induced. The reporter protein decorates microtubules in vivo and binds to microtubules in vitro. Confocal microscopy and time-course analysis of labeled cortical arrays along the outer epidermal wall revealed the lengthening, shortening, and movement of microtubules; localized microtubule reorientations; and global microtubule reorganizations. The global microtubule orientation in some cells fluctuates about the transverse axis and may be a result of a cyclic self-correcting mechanism to maintain a net transverse orientation during cellular elongation.     

Orientation of cortical microtubules correlates with cell shape and division direction

Summary Cortical microtubules in the epidermis of regeneratingGraptopetalum plants were examined by in situ immunofluorescence. Paradermal slices of tissue were prepared by a method that preserves microtubule arrays and also maintains cell junctions. To test the hypothesis that cortical microtubule arrays align perpendicular to the direction of organ growth, arrays were visualized and their orientation quantified. A majority of microtubules are in transverse orientation with respect to the organ axis early in shoot development when the growth habit is uniform. Later in development, when growth habit is non-uniform and the tissue is contoured, cortical microtubules are increasingly longitudinal and oblique in orientation. Microtubules show only a minor change in orientation at the site of greatest curvature, the transition zone of a developing leaf. To assess the role of the division plane on orientation of arrays, the pattern of microtubules was examined in individual cells of common shape. Cells derived from transverse divisions have predominately transverse cortical arrays, whereas cells derived from oblique and longitudinal divisions have non-transverse arrays. The results show that, regardless of the stage of development, microtubules orient with respect to cell shape and plane of division. The results suggest that cytoskeletal function is best considered in small domains of growth within an organ.Abbrevations DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - EGTA ethylene glycol-bis-(ß-aminoethyl ether)-N, N, N, N-tetra acetic acid - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - MTSB microtubule stabilizing buffer - PBS phosphate buffered saline     

End-to-end annealing of plant microtubules by the p86 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-(iso)4F.

The p86 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-(iso)4F from wheat germ exhibits saturable and substoichiometric binding to maize microtubules, induces microtubule bundling in vitro, and is colocalized or closely associated with cortical microtubule bundles in maize root cells, indicating its function as a microtubule-associated protein (MAP). The effects of p86 on the growth of short, taxol-stabilized maize microtubules were investigated. Pure microtubules underwent a gradual length redistribution, an increase in mean length, and a decrease in number concentration consistent with an end-to-end annealing mechanism of microtubule growth. Saturating p86 enhanced the microtubule length distribution and produced significantly longer and fewer microtubules than the control, indicating a facilitation of annealing by p86. Confirmation of endwise annealing rather than of dynamic instability as the mechanism for microtubule growth was made using mammalian MAP2, which also promoted the redistribution of length, increase in mean length, and decrease in number concentration of taxol-stabilized maize microtubules. Enhancement of microtubule growth occurred concomitant with bundling by p86, indicating that an alignment of microtubules in bundles facilitated endwise annealing kinetics. The results demonstrate that nonfacile plant microtubules can spontaneously elongate by endwise annealing and that MAPs enhance the rate of annealing. The p86 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-(iso)4F may be an important regulator of microtubule dynamics in plant cells.     

Cell proliferation,cell shape,and microtubule and cellulose microfibril organization of tobacco BY-2 cells are not altered by exposure to near weightlessness in space

The microtubule cytoskeleton and the cell wall both play key roles in plant cell growth and division, determining the plant’s final stature. At near weightlessness, tubulin polymerizes into microtubules in vitro, but these microtubules do not self-organize in the ordered patterns observed at 1g. Likewise, at near weightlessness cortical microtubules in protoplasts have difficulty organizing into parallel arrays, which are required for proper plant cell elongation. However, intact plants do grow in space and therefore should have a normally functioning microtubule cytoskeleton. Since the main difference between protoplasts and plant cells in a tissue is the presence of a cell wall, we studied single, but walled, tobacco BY-2 suspension-cultured cells during an 8-day space-flight experiment on board of the Soyuz capsule and the International Space Station during the 12S mission (March–April 2006). We show that the cortical microtubule density, ordering and orientation in isolated walled plant cells are unaffected by near weightlessness, as are the orientation of the cellulose microfibrils, cell proliferation, and cell shape. Likely, tissue organization is not essential for the organization of these structures in space. When combined with the fact that many recovering protoplasts have an aberrant cortical microtubule cytoskeleton, the results suggest a role for the cell wall, or its production machinery, in structuring the microtubule cytoskeleton.     

Organization and Control of Microtubule Pattern in Centrohelidan Heliozoa*†

SYNOPSIS. Comparative studies of axopodial microtubule pattern in 10 different centrohelidan Heliozoa belonging to the genera Acanthocystis, Raphidiophrys and Heterophrys suggest that 2 basic principles govern pattern formation in centrohelidan Heliozoa. While the larger “open” arrays with unspecified number of microtubules, e.g. in A. aculeata and R. ambigua, may result from self-linkage of additional microtubules around centroplast-nucleated “starter microtubules,” the smaller “closed” arrays with specified microtubule number, e.g. in A. pectinata and H. marina, favor a template-driven linkage mechanism. The centroplast is a highly complex microtubule organizing center involved in the control of orientation, number, and diameter of the axonemes. Its shell may serve as a surface upon which the microtubule nucleating sites assemble, but how the precise positioning of these sites occurs is still open to debate. Some of the unsolved problems of microtubule pattern formation may be explained by the “linker nucleation hypothesis” which is an extension of the “gradion hypothesis” by Roth et al. It is shown how both the formation of closed arrays and the balanced lateral growth of open arrays may result from linker-induced microtubule nucleation.     

甘蔗茎尖细胞有丝分裂过程中微管骨架的变化

利用改进的冰冻切片法结合间接免疫荧光标记技术对甘蔗茎尖细胞有丝分裂过程中微管骨架的变化进行了研究。结果表明,在甘蔗茎尖细胞有丝分裂过程中存在4种循序变化的典型微管列阵,即周质微管、早前期微管带、纺锤体微管及成膜体微管。同时,还观察到在各种典型微管列阵相互转变过程中存在各种微管列阵的过渡状态。甘蔗茎尖正在伸长的幼叶部位细胞的周质微管主要为与细胞伸长轴相垂直的横向周质微管：茎尖幼叶部位伸长缓慢细胞的微管主要为纵向及斜向排列的周质微管,在甘蔗茎尖幼叶基部初生增粗分生组织处,横向、斜向、纵向及随机排列的周质微管列阵均有分布。在少数分裂前期的细胞中,发现细胞具有2条早前期微管带,其具体功能还不清楚。表明甘蔗茎尖细胞微管列阵的变化与许多双子叶植物及部分单子叶植物具有共同的变化规律,进一步证明微管骨架的周期性变化在植物中具有普遍性。     

Consistent handedness of microtubule helical arrays in maize and Arabidopsis primary roots

Summary The orientation of cortical microtubules in plant cells has been extensively studied, in part because of their influence on the expansion of most plant cell types. Cortical microtubules are often arranged in helical arrays, which are well known to occur with a specific pitch as a function of development or experimental treatment; however, it is not known if the handedness of helical arrays can also be specified. We have studied the handedness of helical arrays by using Vibratome sectioning of maize primary roots and confocal microscopy of Arabidopsis primary roots. In cortical cells of maize roots, the helical array was found to have the same handedness at a given position, not only for the cells of a single root, but also for the cells of more than one hundred roots examined. Quantification of angular distribution of apparent individual microtubules showed that defined regions of the root were composed of cells with highly uniform microtubule orientation. In the region between transverse and longitudinal microtubules (5–10.5 mm from the tip), the array formed a right-handed helix, and basal of cells with longitudinal microtubules (11.5–15 mm from the tip), the array formed a left-handed helix. Similarly, in epidermal cells of Arabidopsis roots right-handed helical arrays were found in the region between transverse and longitudinal microtubules. These results suggest that, in addition to the orientation of microtubules, the handedness of helical microtubule arrays is under cellular control.Abbreviations Cy3 indocarbocyanine - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis-[2-ethanesulfonic acid]     

甘蔗茎尖细胞有丝分裂过程中微管骨架的变化

利用改进的冰冻切片法结合间接免疫荧光标记技术对甘蔗茎尖细胞有丝分裂过程中微管骨架的变化进行了研究。结果表明, 在甘蔗茎尖细胞有丝分裂过程中存在4种循序变化的典型微管列阵,即周质微管、早前期微管带、纺锤体微管及成膜体微管。同时, 还观察到在各种典型微管列阵相互转变过程中存在各种微管列阵的过渡状态。甘蔗茎尖正在伸长的幼叶部位细胞的周质微管主要为与细胞伸长轴相垂直的横向周质微管; 茎尖幼叶部位伸长缓慢细胞的微管主要为纵向及斜向排列的周质微管,在甘蔗茎尖幼叶基部初生增粗分生组织处, 横向、斜向、纵向及随机排列的周质微管列阵均有分布。在少数分裂前期的细胞中, 发现细胞具有2条早前期微管带, 其具体功能还不清楚。表明甘蔗茎尖细胞微管列阵的变化与许多双子叶植物及部分单子叶植物具有共同的变化规律, 进一步证明微管骨架的周期性变化在植物中具有普遍性。     

Self-organization of interphase microtubule arrays in fission yeast

Microtubule organization is key to eukaryotic cell structure and function. In most animal cells, interphase microtubules organize around the centrosome, the major microtubule organizing centre (MTOC). Interphase microtubules can also become organized independently of a centrosome, but how acentrosomal microtubules arrays form and whether they are functionally equivalent to centrosomal arrays remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the interphase microtubule arrays of fission yeast cells can persist independently of nuclear-associated MTOCs, including the spindle pole body (SPB)--the centrosomal equivalent. By artificially enucleating cells, we show that arrays can form de novo (self-organize) without nuclear-associated MTOCs, but require the microtubule nucleator mod20-mbo1-mto1 (refs 3-5), the bundling factor ase1 (refs 6,7), and the kinesin klp2 (refs 8,9). Microtubule arrays in enucleated and nucleated cells are morphologically indistinguishable and similarly locate to the cellular axis and centre. By simultaneously tracking nuclear-independent and SPB-associated microtubule arrays within individual nucleated cells, we show that both define the cell centre with comparable precision. We propose that in fission yeast, nuclear-independent, self-organized, acentrosomal microtubule arrays are structurally and functionally equivalent to centrosomal arrays.     

Analysis of spindle microtubule organization in untreated and taxol-treated PtK1 cells.

Taxol, a microtubule stabilizing agent, has been used to study changes in spindle microtubule organization during mitosis. PtK₁ cells have been treated with 5 μg/ml taxol for brief periods to determine its effect on spindle architecture. During prophase taxol induces microtubules to aggregate, particularly evident in the region between the nucleus and cell periphery. Taxol induces astral microtubule formation in prometaphase and metaphase cells concomitant with a reduction in spindle length. At anaphase taxol induces an increase in length in astral microtubules and reduces microtubule length in the interzone. Taxol-treated telophase cells show a reduction in the rate of furrowing and astral microtubules lack a discrete focus and are arranged more diffusely on the surface of the nuclear envelope. In summary, taxol treatment of cells prior to anaphase produces an increase in astral microtubules, a reduction in kinetochore microtubules and a decrease in spindle length. Brief taxol treatments during anaphase through early G₁ promotes stabilization of microtubules, an increase in the length of astral microtubules and a delayed rate of cytokinesis.     

Architectural dynamics of the meiotic spindle revealed by single-fluorophore imaging

Bipolarity of the meiotic spindle, required for proper chromosome segregation, is maintained throughout cell division despite rapid microtubule turnover. How this is achieved has remained mysterious, as determining the organization of individual spindle microtubules has been difficult. Here, we develop single-fluorophore speckle imaging to examine microtubule organization in the vertebrate meiotic spindle. We find that the mean length of microtubules is approximately 40% of spindle length. Long and short filaments distribute randomly throughout the spindle and those in close proximity can move in the same direction with highly heterogeneous velocities. The ratio between microtubule and spindle lengths remains unchanged as spindles elongate upon dynein-dynactin inhibition. However, maintaining this ratio depends on proper kinesin-5 function. Our data suggest that force transmission within the spindle must be understood in terms of the crosslinking dynamics of a tiled array of individual filaments, most of which do not span the distance from the pole to the metaphase plate.     

TONNEAU2/FASS regulates the geometry of microtubule nucleation and cortical array organization in interphase Arabidopsis cells

Organization of microtubules into ordered arrays involves spatial and temporal regulation of microtubule nucleation. Here, we show that acentrosomal microtubule nucleation in plant cells involves a previously unknown regulatory step that determines the geometry of microtubule nucleation. Dynamic imaging of interphase cortical microtubules revealed that the ratio of branching to in-bundle microtubule nucleation on cortical microtubules is regulated by the Arabidopsis thaliana B' subunit of protein phosphatase 2A, which is encoded by the TONNEAU2/FASS (TON2) gene. The probability of nucleation from γ-tubulin complexes localized at the cell cortex was not affected by a loss of TON2 function, suggesting a specific role of TON2 in regulating the nucleation geometry. Both loss of TON2 function and ectopic targeting of TON2 to the plasma membrane resulted in defects in cell shape, suggesting the importance of TON2-mediated regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton in cell morphogenesis. Loss of TON2 function also resulted in an inability for cortical arrays to reorient in response to light stimulus, suggesting an essential role for TON2 and microtubule branching nucleation in reorganization of microtubule arrays. Our data establish TON2 as a regulator of interphase microtubule nucleation and provide experimental evidence for a novel regulatory step in the process of microtubule-dependent nucleation.