Can I read Heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation of TaxolTM crystals in aqueous solutions and gels: Effect of tubulin proteins on EtoBox?

Heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation of TaxolTM crystals in aqueous solutions and gels: Effect of tubulin proteins by Javier S. Castro; Pierre A. Deymier; Bartosz Trzaskowski; Jaim Bucay is a Materials Science article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation of TaxolTM crystals in aqueous solutions and gels: Effect of tubulin proteins about?

In this study we report crystallization of Taxol in pure water, aqueous solutions containing tubulin proteins and tubulin-containing agarose gels. We show that crystallization of Taxol in tubulin-free aqueous solutions occurs by the formation of sheaf-like crystals, while in the presence of tubulin Taxol crystallizes in the form of spherulites. Whereas sheaves are characteristic for crystals formed by homogeneous nucleation, the spherical symmetry of the Taxol crystal formed in the presence of tubulin suggests they result from heterogeneous nucleation. To explain the formation of tubulin-Taxol nuclei we suggest a new, secondary Taxol-binding site within the tubulin heterodimer. Contrary to the known binding site, where the Taxol molecule is almost completely buried in the protein, the Taxol molecule in the secondary binding site is partially exposed to the solution and may serve as a bridge, connecting other Taxol molecules. Results presented in this work are important for in vivo and in vitro microtubule studies due to the possibility of mistaking these Taxol spherulites for microtubule asters, moreover a novel variable is proposed in the study of cells treated with Taxol for canc

Who reads Heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation of TaxolTM crystals in aqueous solutions and gels: Effect of tubulin proteins?

Author

Javier S. Castro; Pierre A. Deymier; Bartosz Trzaskowski; Jaim Bucay

Publisher

Elsevier Science; Elsevier ; Elsevier BV (ISSN 0927-7765)

Published

2010

Language

EN

Field

Materials Science (Physical Sciences)