Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2052410 | FEBS Letters | 2005 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
Microtubules are polymers of α/β-tubulin participating in essential cell functions. A multistep process involving distinct molecular chaperones and cofactors produces new tubulin heterodimers competent to polymerise. In vitro cofactor A (TBCA) interacts with β-tubulin in a quasi-native state behaving as a molecular chaperone. We have used siRNA to silence TBCA expression in HeLa and MCF-7 mammalian cell lines. TBCA is essential for cell viability and its knockdown produces a decrease in the amount of soluble tubulin, modifications in microtubules and G1 cell cycle arrest. In MCF-7 cells, cell death was preceded by a change in cell shape resembling differentiation.
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Authors
Sofia Nolasco, Javier Bellido, João Gonçalves, Juan Carlos Zabala, Helena Soares,