CLONOGENIC CAPACITY OF CANCER CELLS AFTER MITOTIC SLIPPAGE

Abstract

Microtubules are a vital part of eukaryotic cells that assist in many processes, such as cell motility, spreading, intracellular transport, and mitosis. They are polymer structures that comprise α- and β-tubulin heterodimers and form 13 protofilaments. Each α and β monomer has a GTP-binding site. However, GTP bound to the α-tubulin is trapped and never hydrolyzed, whereas GTP on the β-tubulin could be either in GTP- or GDP-bound form and, thus, is exchangeable. The hydrolysis of GTP on the β-tubulin site impacts the microtubular dynamics.