ROLE OF MAPS AND MOTORS IN THE BUNDLING AND SHIMMERING OF NATIVE MICROTUBULES FROM INSECT OVARIOLES

Bundles of native microtubules isolated from the ovarioles of hemipter an insects are seen to shimmer when observed using dark-field microsco py. This novel form of microtubule motility becomes even more obvious when the isolated bundles are detergent-extracted and reactivated. We have studied the nucleotide-specificity and the drug-sensitivity of mi crotubule shimmering in order to obtain information regarding the natu re of the motor protein responsible, and to compare its properties wit h those of previously characterised microtubule motors. The involvemen t of structural MAPs in the shimmering and in maintenance of microtubu le bundles in this system has also been investigated. (C) 1994 Wiley-L iss, Inc.