Presented By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
MCDB Virtual Seminar: Building Functional Neurons with Motors & Microtubules
Jill Wildonger, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Host: Morgan DeSantis
Neurons display an amazing diversity of shapes, sizes and activities. Underlying neuron structure and function is the microtubule cytoskeleton. Microtubules can be stable or highly dynamic, undergoing bouts of growth and shrinkage. We have uncovered a novel a-tubulin mutation that regulates microtubule dynamics, potentially through an effect on acetylation on an uncharacterized site in a-tubulin, and differentially affects the morphology of two distinct neuron types.
Neurons display an amazing diversity of shapes, sizes and activities. Underlying neuron structure and function is the microtubule cytoskeleton. Microtubules can be stable or highly dynamic, undergoing bouts of growth and shrinkage. We have uncovered a novel a-tubulin mutation that regulates microtubule dynamics, potentially through an effect on acetylation on an uncharacterized site in a-tubulin, and differentially affects the morphology of two distinct neuron types.