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Kinesin-8 motors regulate the lengths of microtubules in cells. In previous studies, these motors have been shown to utilize their highly processive plus-end directed motility to reach microtubule plus-ends where they act as a microtubule depolymerase. The superprocessive motility importantly allows Kip3 motors to depolymerize microtubules in a length-dependent manner, the underlying mechanism of which has been described by an antenna model. During such long runs, motors in vivo are expected to frequently encounter roadblocks, such as microtubule associated proteins. The adaptions in the stepping mechanism that allow kinesin-8 motors to navigate around roadblocks to reach microtubule ends is not well understood. In this work, in vitro techniques were utilized to understand the navigation strategy of yeast kinesin-8, Kip3. Three-dimensional stepping motility of Kip3 on the surface of microtubules can be inferred (i) indirectly from rotational motion of microtubules gliding along a surface coated with Kip3 and (ii) directly by three-dimensional tracking of Kip3 on freely suspended microtubules. Firstly, an impact-free method to detect rotations of gliding microtubules was established based on fluorescent speckles within the microtubule structure in combination with fluorescent interference contrast microscopy. Secondly, a suspended microtubule assay was established to obtain three- dimensional trajectories of single Kip3 motors, using Parallax, a dual-focus imaging technique. The motility assays performed in this work revealed that Kip3 motors undergo left-handed helical motion around the microtubule lattice. This indicates that Kip3 employs a directed sidestepping strategy which is attributed to the motor having a flexible neck and/or a long neck linker. Interestingly, further analysis of the rotational motion revealed that the sidestepping of Kip3 is not directly coupled to the forward stepping. Based on these observations, it is hypothesized that the motor can transition from a two-head-bound conformation to a one-head-bound conformation while waiting for ATP. Whereas the motor can step forward from both states, sidestepping is strongly favored from the one-head-bound conformation. This hypothesis was confirmed through experiments as well as numerical simulations where the transition from the two-head-bound conformation to the one-head-bound conformation was enhanced by either prolonging the ATP waiting time or increasing the transition rate (by reducing the motor-microtubule interaction). Finally, Kip3 based motility assays were performed using microtubules decorated with rigor binding kinesin-1 motors acting as roadblocks. While gliding assays using roadblock-decorated microtubules indicated a left-biased sidestepping strategy for Kip3, stepping assays revealed an additional diffusive component in the stepping motility of Kip3, along with the leftward bias. Taken together, it is hypothesized that Kip3 has a dual-mode roadblock circumnavigation strategy. Upon encountering a roadblock, the motor circumnavigates it (i) by shifting to the adjacent left microtubule protofilament using the biased sidestepping mechanism or (ii) by shifting microtubule protofilaments in an unbiased diffusive manner upon switching out of the step cycle. Therefore, the biophysical properties of Kip3 are fine-tuned to ensure that the motor reaches the microtubule plus-end to perform its depolymerase activity.

Les microtubules sont des composants hautement dynamiques du cytosquelette. La tubuline gamma est localisée au centrosome. Elle y forme le complexe de nucléation des microtubules, le gamma-TuRC, en association avec les protéines GCPs 2-6. Les GCPs 2-6 forment une famille de protéines caractérisée par deux domaines conservés appelés GRIP1 et 2. De par sa structure, le gamma-TuRC sert de moule pour la nucléation des microtubules. Le gamma-TuRC est constitué de plusieurs sous-complexes : les gamma-TuSCs qui sont composés d'une GCP2 et d'une GCP3 qui interagissent entre elle par leur domaine amino-terminal, chacune liant une tubuline gamma via leur domaine carboxy-terminal. Les gamma-TuSCs s'assemblent latéralement pour former une structure à un tour d'hélice, les deux extrémités de l'hélice se recouvrant. La structure atomique de GCP4 s'intègre particulièrement bien dans structure du gamma-TuSC de levure, obtenue en microscopie électronique, à la place de GCP2 et 3 suggérant une forte conservation structurale entre les GCPs. GCP4, 5 et 6 pourraient donc être partie intégrante de l'hélice. Durant ma thèse j'ai étudié la position relative des GCP4, 5 et 6 au sein du gamma-TuRC. Pour cela j'ai développé des approches d'échange de domaines et de mutagénèse. J'ai également mis en place des stratégies de FLIM-FRET et d'immunoprécipitation. J'ai ainsi montré que c'est le domaine N-terminal des GCPs qui définit leur identité, les domaines C-terminaux étant échangeables. J'ai également mis en évidence, au sein du gamma-TuRC, des interactions latérales entre GCP4 et GCP5 semblables à celles établies par GCP2 et GCP3 dans les gamma-TuSC. J'ai également pu isoler un complexe contenant GCP4, 5, 6 et la tubuline gamma indépendamment du gamma-TuRC. J'apporte ainsi les premières preuves expérimentales soutenant l'idée que GCP4, 5 et 6 sont partie intégrante de l'hélice du gamma-TuRC et qu'elles y forment un sous complexe qui occupe une position bien définie. / Microtubules are highly dynamic components of the cytoskeleton. gammatubulin is found at the centrosome where it forms a microtubule nucleation complex together with GCPs 2-6, the gamma-TuRC. GCPs 2-6 form a conserved family of proteins characterised by two conserved domains called GRIP1 and 2. The gamma-TuRC functions as a structural template for microtubule nucleation. The gamma-TuRC is composed of smaller subcomplexes called gamma-TuSC. Each gamma-TuSC is composed by one GCP2, one GCP3 and two gamma?tubulins. GCP2 and GCP3 interact via their N-terminal domain and bind gamma tubulin through their C-terminal domain. Several gamma-TuSCs can assemble laterally to form a one-turn helix with the two ends overlapping. The atomic structure of GCP4 fits almost perfectly in the place of GCP2 and GCP3 within the gamma-TuSC envelope obtained by electron microscopy suggesting a strong structural conservation among GCPs. Hence, GCP4, 5 and 6 may be part of the helix. During the course of my thesis, I studied the relative position of GCPs 4, 5, 6 within the gamma-TuRC. To this aim, I developed a domain swapping and mutagenesis approaches. I also combined FLIM-FRET and immunoprecipitation strategies. I have been able to show that the N-terminal domains of GCPs define their identity while the C-terminal domains can be swapped. My results also indicate that GCP4 and GCP5 establish gamma-TuSC like interactions within the gamma-TuRC. I also isolated a complex containing GCP4, 5, 6 and gamma tubulin independently of the gamma-TuRC. My thesis provides the first experimental evidence supporting the model where GCP4, 5 and 6 are part of the gamma-TuRC helix where they form a sub-complex localised at a defined position.

Glioblastomas are the most common and the deadliest types of brain tumours. Due to their highly invasive behaviour, they are incurable by convencial therapeutical strategies. It was shown that some components of microtubules, namely class III β-tubulin, γ-tubulin and microtubule severing protein spastin are overexpressed in glioblastoma cell lines as well as glioblastomas. This diploma thesis is focused on the expression, subcellular distribution and function of katanin, another microtubule-severing enzyme, in gliobastoma cell lines. Katanin is formed by catalytic (p60) and regulatory (p80) subunits. Expression and cellular localization of both katanin subunits was studied in panel of human glioblastoma cell lines isolated form adults (T98G, U87MG, U118MG and U138 MG) and child (KNS42). Data presented in this thesis demonstrated that katanin subunits were overexpresed both on transcript and protein levels in T98G, U87MG and KNS42 cell lines, but not in U138MG and U118MG cell lines when compared to normal non- transformed human astrocytes. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that both katanin subunits were diffusively distributed in cytoplasm and concentrated on spindle poles of mitotic cells and on leading edges of migrating cells. Examination of cell motility revealed that velocities in...

Cells are dynamic systems that generate and respond to forces through the complex interplay between biochemical and mechanical regulations. Since cellular processes often happen at the molecular level and are challenging to be observed under in vivo conditions due to limitations in optical microscopy, multiple analysis tools have been developed to gain insight into those processes. One of the ways to characterize these mechanical properties is by measuring their persistence length, the average length over which filaments stay straight. There are several approaches in the literature for measuring the persistence length of the filaments, including Fourier analysis of images obtained using fluorescence microscopy. Here, we show how curvature can be used to quantify local deformations of cell shape and cellular components. We develop a novel technique, called curvature analysis, to measure the stiffness of bio-filaments from fluorescent images. We test our predictions with Monte-Carlo generated filaments. We also apply our approach to microtubules and actin filaments obtained from in vitro gliding assay experiments with high densities of non-functional motors. The presented curvature analysis is significantly more accurate compared to existing approaches for small data sets. To study the effect of motors on filament deformations and velocities observed in gliding assays with functional and non-functional motors, we developed Langevin dynamics simulations of on glass and lipid surfaces. We found that generally the gliding velocity increases with an increase in motor density and a decrease in diffusion coefficient, and that motor density and diffusion coefficient have no clear effect on filament curvatures, except at a very low diffusion coefficients. Finally, we provide an ImageJ plugin to make curvature and persistence length measurements more accessible to everyone.

Thesis advisor: David R. Burgess / Centration of the nucleus after fertilization is an essential step for setting-up cell division and proper embryonic development in many proliferating cells such as the sea urchin. The sperm aster must capture the female pronucleus for fusion as well as the nucleus becoming positioned at the center of the cell. Microtubules (MTs) are known to play a role in this centration but the exact mechanism remains unknown. This begins to investigate current models of nuclear centration and the role of various interactions. Three phases of migration were observed as the male aster migrated with support in independent movements of the male and female pronuclei. Dimpling affects present that altered the morphology of the cell were observed when engagement occurred between the male and female pronuclei. It was discovered that this dimpling effect was a result of an interaction between MTs and the cortex, as confirmed by visualization of sheared cells in which only the cortex remained. Stemming from previous and current research in the lab, the role of post-translational modifications (PMTs) in nuclear centration was investigated for the different forces exerted due to various factors. Tyrosinated and detyrosinated populations were observed with and without the presence of parthenolide (PTL), an agent that inhibits detyrosination. PTL was observed to not only prevent the proper migration, but also that it expanded tyrosination of tubulin – which would further disrupt the force vectors created through the PMTs promotion of dyneins and kinesins. The results have lead to a new hypothesis to be furthered in order to gain an in-depth understanding in the mechanism(s) for pronuclear migration. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Biology.

OBJECTIVE: One of the major issues in current radiotherapy (RT) is the normal tissue toxicity. A smart combination of agents within the tumor would allow lowering the RT dose required while minimizing the damage to healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. We chose gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and docetaxel (DTX) as our choice of two radiosensitizing agents. They have a different mechanism of action which could lead to synergistic effect. Our first goal was to assess the variation in GNP uptake, distribution, and retention in the presence of DTX. Our second goal was to assess the therapeutic results of the triple combination, RT/GNPs/DTX. METHODS: We used HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells for our study. Cells were incubated with GNPs (0.2nM) in the absence and presence of DTX (50nM) for 24 hrs for determination of uptake, distribution, and retention of NPs. For RT experiment, treated cells were given a 2 Gy dose of 6 MV photons using a linear accelerator. RESULTS: Concurrent treatment of DTX and GNPs resulted in over 85% retention of GNPs in tumor cells. DTX treatment also forced GNPs to be closer to the most important target, the nucleus, resulting in a significant decrease in cell survival with the triple combination of RT, GNPs, and DTX vs. RT plus DTX alone. Our experimental therapeutics results are supported by Monte Carlo simulations. CONCLUSION: The ability to not only trap GNPs at clinically feasible doses but also to retain them within the cells could lead to meaningful fractionated treatments in future combined cancer therapy. Furthermore, the suggested triple combination of RT/GNPs/DTX may allow lowering the RT dose to spare surrounding healthy tissue. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This is the first study to show intracellular GNP transport disruption by DTX, and its advantage in radiosensitization. / Graduate / 2020-10-31

Thesis advisor: Laura Anne Lowery / Axon guidance is a critical process in forming the connections between a neuron and its target. Development of a properly functioning nervous system relies heavily on how accurately an axon is guided to the right target. Defects in the guidance machinery may result in neurological disorders. The growth cone that is formed at the tip of a growing axon is responsible for navigating axons to their final targets. The growth cone steers the growing axon towards the appropriate direction by integrating extracellular guidance cues received by membrane-associated receptors at the growth cone periphery. Upon receiving guidance cues, a number of intracellular signal transduction pathways are initiated downstream of the guidance receptors, that can promote or halt growth cone advance. The growth cone generates these responses by remodeling its cytoskeletal components, which are actin network in the periphery and microtubules in the growth cone center. In this thesis, we focus on understanding the role of microtubule dynamics regulation within the growth cone as it makes guidance decisions. Specifically, we examine the role of TACC3 as a microtubule plus-end binding protein during axon outgrowth and guidance. We show that TACC3 localizes at microtubule plus-ends in embryonic Xenopus laevis growth cones and regulates microtubule growth parameters. We also show that TACC3 is important for promoting axon outgrowth in cultured neural tube explants. Furthermore, our data suggests that TACC3 affects axon guidance in vivo and ex vivo. Examination of embryos depleted of TACC3 revealed guidance defects in the spinal cord neurons, while TACC3-overexpressing cultured spinal neurons showed increased resistance to Slit2-induced growth cone collapse. Finally, in an attempt to delineate the mechanism behind TACC3-mediated axon guidance under Slit2, we studied the importance of tyrosine phosphorylation induced by Abelson tyrosine kinase. We find that retaining phosphorylatable tyrosines within the TACC domain is important for its microtubule plus-end tracking behavior and its impact on microtubule dynamics regulation, axon outgrowth and guidance. Together, this thesis contributes new insights to the understanding of the role of TACC3 as a microtubule plus-end binding protein and identifies TACC3 as a potential regulator of axon outgrowth and guidance during Xenopus laevis embryonic development. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Biology.

Cells are dynamic systems that generate and respond to forces through the complex interplay between biochemical and mechanical regulations. Since cellular processes often happen at the molecular level and are challenging to be observed under in vivo conditions due to limitations in optical microscopy, multiple analysis tools have been developed to gain insight into those processes. One of the ways to characterize these mechanical properties is by measuring their persistence length, the average length over which filaments stay straight. There are several approaches in the literature for measuring the persistence length of the filaments, including Fourier analysis of images obtained using fluorescence microscopy. Here, we show how curvature can be used to quantify local deformations of cell shape and cellular components. We develop a novel technique, called curvature analysis, to measure the stiffness of bio-filaments from fluorescent images. We test our predictions with Monte-Carlo generated filaments. We also apply our approach to microtubules and actin filaments obtained from in vitro gliding assay experiments with high densities of non-functional motors. The presented curvature analysis is significantly more accurate compared to existing approaches for small data sets. To study the effect of motors on filament deformations and velocities observed in gliding assays with functional and non-functional motors, we developed Langevin dynamics simulations of on glass and lipid surfaces. We found that generally the gliding velocity increases with an increase in motor density and a decrease in diffusion coefficient, and that motor density and diffusion coefficient have no clear effect on filament curvatures, except at a very low diffusion coefficients. Finally, we provide an ImageJ plugin to make curvature and persistence length measurements more accessible to everyone.

The multilayered structure (MLS), a component of the locomotory complex of plant sperm, has been utilized extensively by taxonomists in establishing phylogenetic relationships between the lower plants and algae. Unfortunately, there has been almost no biochemical characterization of the MLS and, in those studies that did attempt a characterization, conflicting results were obtained. We utilized antisera to the calcium-binding protein centrin to probe thin sections of the mid-stage spermatids of the anthocerote Phaeoceros laevis, the hepatic Sphaerocarpos texanus, and the pteridophyte Ceratopteris richardii embedded in L. R. White resin. The lamellar strip (LS; layers S2-S4) of the MLS in each of these species is labelled strongly with anti-centrin, but the S1 layer, composed of microtubules, is not. In Ceratopteris, centrin is also detected in the amorphous electron opaque material that connects the basal bodies of the flagella. Both the MLS and the amorphous zones are putative microtubule organizing centers. Extracts from axenic cultures of Ceratopteris subjected for electrophoresis and Western blotting revealed a reactive band at 19.3 kDa, a protein similar in molecular mass to algal centrin. These data indicate that the MLS is composed at least partially of the protein centrin or a protein antigenically-related to centrin. This report is the first electron microscopic immunocytochemical demonstration that a centrin homologue is found in land plants and that it occurs at putative microtubule organizing centers.