| Microtubules are cytoskeletal components, which control many aspects of cellular architecture. The dynamic properties of microtubules and their interaction with other cellular structures are regulated by microtubule-associated proteins. Among these proteins, a prominent place is occupied by microtubule plus end tracking proteins (+TIPs) - a group of factors, which accumulate specifically at the growing microtubule ends. The most ubiquitous and evolutionary conserved +TIP family is represented by EB1 and its homologues. In mammals, this family comprises three members: EB1, EB2 and EB3. While EB1 is highly expressed in proliferating cells, EB3 often becomes predominant in terminally differentiated cell types. The aim of this project is to get insight in the function of EB3 in formation of specialised microtubule networks in differentiated mammalian cells by generating a conditional mouse knockout of the EB3-encoding gene. The functional differences between the three mammalian EB proteins will be addressed by systematically characterising their protein partners through a proteomics approach. |
