History-Dependent Catastrophes Regulate Axonal Microtubule Behavior

SummaryIn Chinese hamster ovary cells, microtubules originate at the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and grow persistently toward the cell edge, where they undergo catastrophe [1]. In axons, microtubule dynamics must be regulated differently because microtubules grow parallel to the plasma membrane and there is no MTOC. GFP-tagged microtubule plus end tracking proteins (+TIPs) mark the ends of growing neuronal microtubules [2]. Their fluorescent “comet-like” pattern reflects turnover of +TIP binding sites [3 and 4]. Using GFP-tagged +TIPs and fluorescence-based segmentation and tracking tools, we show that axonal microtubules grow with a constant average velocity and that they undergo catastrophes at random positions, yet in a programmed fashion. Using protein depletion approaches, we find that the +TIPs CLIP-115 and CLIP-170 affect average microtubule growth rate and growth distance in neurons but not the duration of a microtubule growth event. In N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells, we find that EB1, the core +TIP [5], regulates microtubule growth rate, growth distance, and duration, consistent with in vitro data [6]. Combined, our data suggest that CLIPs influence the axonal microtubule/tubulin ratio, whereas EB1 stimulates microtubule growth and structural transitions at microtubule ends, thereby regulating microtubule catastrophes and the turnover of +TIP binding sites.

► Microtubule behavior in axons is special because of the particular compartment shape
► Axonal microtubules undergo history-dependent catastrophes at random positions
► Different +TIPs regulate distinct aspects of axonal microtubule dynamics
► EB1, the core +TIP, controls catastrophes by influencing microtubule end structure