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Foraminiferal Beta 2-Tubulin And Microtubule To Helical Filament Transition In Reticulomyxa Filosa, Ingrid Ann Hahn

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Foraminifera have unusually fast dynamic movements resulting in the reorganization of the microtubule cytoskeleton (Travis and Bowser, 1988; Travis et al., 1983). We are interested in using Reticulomyxa filosa as a model to investigate the mechanisms and factors that regulate such fast microtubule assembly/disassembly rates (Chen and Schliwa 1990; Travis and Bowser, 1991; Welnhofer and Travis, 1996). Compared to conventional microtubule assembly and disassembly models, foraminifera tubulin can exist in another assembly state termed helical filaments. A novel form of tubulin, β2, in foraminifera is likely critical to these unusual microtubule properties. This thesis investigates Reticulomyxa filosa, a freshwater foraminifera …