Bacterial Tubulins: A Eukaryotic-Like Microtubule Cytoskeleton

Abstract

Ever since their discovery, bacterial tubulins, found in several Prosthecobacter species, have raised curiosity as they are closely related to eukaryotic tubulin. Deng and colleagues now present new evidence for the functional homology of the two cytoskeletal systems where in vitro reconstituted Btub-microtubules display eukaryote-like biochemical and dynamic properties.

Keywords: bacterial cytoskeleton; bacterial tubulin; dynamic instability; electron microscopy; microtubule-associated protein.