Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting | Trieste 2024

Emerging Theoretical Approaches to Complement Single-Particle Cryo-EM

Poster Abstracts

11-POS Board 11 CRYO-EM AND THEORETICAL STUDIES HIGHLIGHT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OUTER JUNCTIONS IN NATIVE DOUBLE MICROTUBULES Shintaroh Kubo 1,2 ; Corbin S Black 2 ; Khanh H Bui 2 ; 1 the University of Tokyo, Applied Chemistry, Bunkyo-ku, Japan 2 McGill University, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Montreal, QC, Canada Cilia, important cellular structures, rely on a microtubule-based framework known as the axoneme, composed of intricate networks of microtubule-inner proteins (MIPs). This study uses cryo-electron microscopy to investigate the MIPs found in Tetrahymena thermophila's microtubule structures, identifying 42 distinct MIPs. Crucial insights are gained into the diverse roles of MIPs, including assembly and stability of the doublet outer junction. Knocking out CFAP77, a key component of the outer junction, reduces Tetrahymena swimming speed and beat frequency, underscoring its significance in cilia function.

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