Models, Regulations, and Functions of Microtubule Severing by Katanin
Figure 2
Models of Microtubule severing by Katanin. (a) Motor proteins bind to microtubules and their movements cause structural bending/deformation (into S or V shape) of microtubules to release tubulins from deformed sites. Katanin binds to these sites and enhances the process of severing. (b) Katanin preferentially binds to microtubules which are redundant in specific isotype (isotype2/TBB2) of β-tubulin and catalyzes severing process in these microtubules. (c) Katanin binds to branching sites of aberrantly branched microtubule mesh to severe microtubules from branching points. (d) Katanin binding and subsequent severing of microtubules is favored when microtubules are posttranslationally modified (like poly-glycated, poly-glutamylated).
