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Open data
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Basic information
| Entry | Database: PDB / ID: 9ox7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Title | In situ microtubule structure in the axon of a human neuron | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keywords | STRUCTURAL PROTEIN / Human in-situ microtubule / axon / cytoskeleton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Function / homology | Function and homology informationCilium Assembly / Cargo trafficking to the periciliary membrane / Post-chaperonin tubulin folding pathway / axonemal microtubule / cytoskeleton-dependent intracellular transport / Carboxyterminal post-translational modifications of tubulin / Microtubule-dependent trafficking of connexons from Golgi to the plasma membrane / organelle transport along microtubule / forebrain morphogenesis / glial cell differentiation ...Cilium Assembly / Cargo trafficking to the periciliary membrane / Post-chaperonin tubulin folding pathway / axonemal microtubule / cytoskeleton-dependent intracellular transport / Carboxyterminal post-translational modifications of tubulin / Microtubule-dependent trafficking of connexons from Golgi to the plasma membrane / organelle transport along microtubule / forebrain morphogenesis / glial cell differentiation / cerebellar cortex morphogenesis / dentate gyrus development / Sealing of the nuclear envelope (NE) by ESCRT-III / Intraflagellar transport / neuron projection arborization / Formation of tubulin folding intermediates by CCT/TriC / embryonic brain development / Gap junction assembly / smoothened signaling pathway / pyramidal neuron differentiation / motor behavior / Kinesins / positive regulation of axon guidance / Prefoldin mediated transfer of substrate to CCT/TriC / response to L-glutamate / COPI-independent Golgi-to-ER retrograde traffic / Assembly and cell surface presentation of NMDA receptors / centrosome cycle / COPI-dependent Golgi-to-ER retrograde traffic / 'de novo' protein folding / startle response / flagellated sperm motility / intercellular bridge / regulation of synapse organization / Recycling pathway of L1 / microtubule polymerization / locomotory exploration behavior / response to tumor necrosis factor / homeostasis of number of cells within a tissue / response to mechanical stimulus / sperm flagellum / adult locomotory behavior / RHO GTPases activate IQGAPs / microtubule-based process / Hedgehog 'off' state / COPI-mediated anterograde transport / condensed chromosome / Activation of AMPK downstream of NMDARs / Loss of Nlp from mitotic centrosomes / Loss of proteins required for interphase microtubule organization from the centrosome / Recruitment of mitotic centrosome proteins and complexes / MHC class II antigen presentation / Recruitment of NuMA to mitotic centrosomes / Anchoring of the basal body to the plasma membrane / HSP90 chaperone cycle for steroid hormone receptors (SHR) in the presence of ligand / cellular response to calcium ion / Mitotic Prometaphase / EML4 and NUDC in mitotic spindle formation / AURKA Activation by TPX2 / Resolution of Sister Chromatid Cohesion / Translocation of SLC2A4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane / neuromuscular junction / neuron migration / visual learning / cerebral cortex development / RHO GTPases Activate Formins / intracellular protein transport / memory / synapse organization / PKR-mediated signaling / microtubule cytoskeleton organization / recycling endosome / modulation of chemical synaptic transmission / Schaffer collateral - CA1 synapse / mitotic spindle / structural constituent of cytoskeleton / neuron differentiation / cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granule / HCMV Early Events / Aggrephagy / neuron apoptotic process / The role of GTSE1 in G2/M progression after G2 checkpoint / Separation of Sister Chromatids / microtubule cytoskeleton / Regulation of PLK1 Activity at G2/M Transition / mitotic cell cycle / protein-folding chaperone binding / cilium / microtubule binding / microtubule / Hydrolases; Acting on acid anhydrides; Acting on GTP to facilitate cellular and subcellular movement / protein stabilization / protein heterodimerization activity / cell division / hydrolase activity / GTPase activity / GTP binding / protein-containing complex binding / structural molecule activity / extracellular exosome Similarity search - Function | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biological species | Homo sapiens (human) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Method | ELECTRON MICROSCOPY / helical reconstruction / cryo EM / Resolution: 2.69 Å | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Authors | Zehr, E.A. / Sun, S. / Roll-Mecak, A. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funding support | United States, 1items
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Citation | Journal: Nat Struct Mol Biol / Year: 2026Title: Microtubules in the axon are GDP bound but adopt a stable GTP-like expanded state. Authors: Elena A Zehr / Shufeng Sun / Stephanie L Sarbanes / Antonina Roll-Mecak / ![]() Abstract: Microtubules scaffold cells, supporting signaling and cargo transport. They assemble from GTP-tubulin, which hydrolyzes to GDP-tubulin during polymerization. GTP-microtubule lattices are stable; GDP ...Microtubules scaffold cells, supporting signaling and cargo transport. They assemble from GTP-tubulin, which hydrolyzes to GDP-tubulin during polymerization. GTP-microtubule lattices are stable; GDP lattices depolymerize rapidly. In vitro, hydrolysis triggers lattice compaction. Lattice spacing regulates motors and microtubule-associated proteins; however, the conformation of tubulin in microtubules in cells is unknown. Here, we present the atomic-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of human microtubules in situ, in the axons of human cortical neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). Our 2.7-Å-resolution reconstruction delineates bound water molecules and reveals that axonal microtubules adopt an expanded GTP-like lattice, despite being GDP bound. Using cryo-electron tomography and power spectrum analysis, we find that, unlike in axons, microtubules in undifferentiated iPS cells are compacted. Therefore, lattice expansion is part of neuronal differentiation. Our work provides molecular insights into neurogenesis and has implications for understanding microtubule stability and effector recruitment in neurons. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History |
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Structure visualization
| Structure viewer | Molecule: Molmil Jmol/JSmol |
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Downloads & links
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Download
| PDBx/mmCIF format | 9ox7.cif.gz | 658.7 KB | Display | PDBx/mmCIF format |
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| PDB format | pdb9ox7.ent.gz | 542.3 KB | Display | PDB format |
| PDBx/mmJSON format | 9ox7.json.gz | Tree view | PDBx/mmJSON format | |
| Others | Other downloads |
-Validation report
| Arichive directory | https://data.pdbj.org/pub/pdb/validation_reports/ox/9ox7 ftp://data.pdbj.org/pub/pdb/validation_reports/ox/9ox7 | HTTPS FTP |
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-Related structure data
| Related structure data | ![]() 70956MC M: map data used to model this data C: citing same article ( |
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| Similar structure data | Similarity search - Function & homology F&H Search |
| Experimental dataset #1 | Data reference: 10.6019/EMPIAR-13239 / Db source: EMPIARDetails: Cryo-electron tomography of microtubules in axons from human cortical neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) |
| Experimental dataset #2 | Data reference: 10.6019/EMPIAR-13240 / Db source: EMPIARDetails: Cryo-electron tomography of microtubules in undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) |
| Experimental dataset #3 | Data reference: 10.6019/EMPIAR-13241 / Db source: EMPIARDetails: Cryo-electron tomography of in vitro assembled, GDP-bound, porcine brain microtubules |
| Experimental dataset #4 | Data reference: 10.6019/EMPIAR-13244 / Db source: EMPIARDetails: Cryo-electron tomography of in vitro assembled, GMPCPP-bound, porcine brain microtubules |
| Experimental dataset #5 | Data reference: 10.6019/EMPIAR-13243 / Db source: EMPIARDetails: Cryo-electron tomography of in vitro assembled, GMPCPP-bound, porcine brain microtubules |
| Experimental dataset #6 | Data reference: 10.6019/EMPIAR-13242 / Db source: EMPIARDetails: Cryo-electron tomography of in vitro assembled, GDP-bound, porcine brain microtubules |
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Links
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Assembly
| Deposited unit | ![]()
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Components
-Protein , 2 types, 8 molecules BDEFACGH
| #1: Protein | Mass: 49999.887 Da / Num. of mol.: 4 / Source method: isolated from a natural source / Source: (natural) Homo sapiens (human) / Cell line: WTC11 / Tissue: Neuronal / References: UniProt: Q9BVA1#2: Protein | Mass: 50188.441 Da / Num. of mol.: 4 / Source method: isolated from a natural source / Source: (natural) Homo sapiens (human) / Cell line: WTC11 / Tissue: Neuronal / References: UniProt: Q71U36 |
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-Non-polymers , 4 types, 44 molecules 






| #3: Chemical | ChemComp-GDP / #4: Chemical | ChemComp-MG / #5: Chemical | ChemComp-GTP / #6: Water | ChemComp-HOH / | |
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-Details
| Has ligand of interest | Y |
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| Has protein modification | N |
-Experimental details
-Experiment
| Experiment | Method: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY |
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| EM experiment | Aggregation state: FILAMENT / 3D reconstruction method: helical reconstruction |
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Sample preparation
| Component | Name: Axonal alpha1A and betaIIB microtubule / Type: COMPLEX / Entity ID: #1-#2 / Source: NATURAL |
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| Molecular weight | Value: 1 MDa / Experimental value: NO |
| Source (natural) | Organism: Homo sapiens (human) / Cellular location: axon / Tissue: neuronal |
| Buffer solution | pH: 7.2 |
| Specimen | Conc.: 0.55 mg/ml / Embedding applied: NO / Shadowing applied: NO / Staining applied: NO / Vitrification applied: YES |
| Specimen support | Grid material: GOLD / Grid mesh size: 200 divisions/in. / Grid type: Quantifoil R2/2 |
| Vitrification | Instrument: FEI VITROBOT MARK II / Cryogen name: ETHANE / Humidity: 85 % / Chamber temperature: 303 K |
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Electron microscopy imaging
| Experimental equipment | ![]() Model: Titan Krios / Image courtesy: FEI Company |
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| Microscopy | Model: TFS KRIOS |
| Electron gun | Electron source: FIELD EMISSION GUN / Accelerating voltage: 300 kV / Illumination mode: FLOOD BEAM |
| Electron lens | Mode: BRIGHT FIELD / Nominal magnification: 105000 X / Nominal defocus max: 2500 nm / Nominal defocus min: 1200 nm / Cs: 2.7 mm / C2 aperture diameter: 70 µm / Alignment procedure: COMA FREE |
| Image recording | Average exposure time: 2.03 sec. / Electron dose: 56.57 e/Å2 / Film or detector model: GATAN K3 (6k x 4k) / Num. of grids imaged: 6 / Num. of real images: 3017 |
| EM imaging optics | Energyfilter name: GIF Bioquantum / Energyfilter slit width: 20 eV |
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Processing
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| CTF correction | Type: PHASE FLIPPING AND AMPLITUDE CORRECTION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Helical symmerty | Angular rotation/subunit: -27.6723 ° / Axial rise/subunit: 9.60742 Å / Axial symmetry: C1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Particle selection | Num. of particles selected: 288841 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3D reconstruction | Resolution: 2.69 Å / Resolution method: FSC 0.143 CUT-OFF / Num. of particles: 1887666 / Algorithm: FOURIER SPACE / Symmetry type: HELICAL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atomic model building | B value: 69 / Protocol: FLEXIBLE FIT / Space: REAL / Target criteria: cross-correlation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atomic model building | PDB-ID: 8v4k Accession code: 8v4k / Source name: PDB / Type: experimental model |
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About Yorodumi




Homo sapiens (human)
United States, 1items
Citation
PDBj



























FIELD EMISSION GUN
