News Finding: They really are fundamental to cell biology."
Paper Finding: We further demonstrate that XMAP215 directly interacts with γ -tubulin via its C terminus.
News Context: "Our study shows that microtubules in the cell are generated through cooperation between two molecules," said Akanksha Thawani, a fourth-year graduate student in Petry's lab who is the first author of the new paper. They really are fundamental to cell biology." But there was a problem, said Petry.
Paper Context: XMAP215 and γ -TuRC operate synergistically to generate MTs in vitro, and the C terminus of XMAP215 is required for this cooperation. We further demonstrate that XMAP215 directly interacts with γ -tubulin via its C terminus. Thus, XMAP215 is a major MT nucleation factor that functions with γ -TuRC to give rise to the MT cytoskeleton.