There continues to be intense interest in the microtubule cytoskeleton; the assembly, structure and regulation of microtubules; and the numerous motors and accessory proteins that control cell cycle, dynamics, organization and transport. The field continues to grow and explore new aspects of these issues driven immensely by developments in optical imaging and tracking techniques. This volume (complemented by the forthcoming companion volume by Cassimeris and Tran) brings together current research and protocols in the field of microtoubules in vitro and will serve as a valuable tool for cell biologists, biophysicists and pharmacologists who study the microtubule cytoskeleton, as well as for researchers in the biomedical and biotechnology communities with interest in developing drugs that target microtubules, MAPS and motors. - Chapters reflect both experimental procedures and new developments in the field of microtubule in vitro research - Combines classical approaches and modern technologies - Presents easy-to-use protocols and thorough background information, compiled by leaders in the field

Microtubules are at the heart of cellular self-organization, and their dynamic nature allows them to explore the intracellular space and mediate the transport of cargoes from the nucleus to the outer edges of the cell and back. In Microtubule Dynamics: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field provide an up-to-date collection of methods and approaches that are used to investigate microtubule dynamics in vitro and in cells. Beginning with the question of how to analyze microtubule dynamics, the volume continues with detailed descriptions of how to isolate tubulin from different sources and with different posttranslational modifications, methods used to study microtubule dynamics and microtubule interactions in vitro, techniques to investigate the ultrastructure of microtubules and associated proteins, assays to study microtubule nucleation, turnover, and force production in cells, as well as approaches to isolate novel microtubule-associated proteins and their interacting proteins. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Definitive and practical, Microtubule Dynamics: Methods and Protocols provides the key protocols needed by novices and experts on how to perform a broad range of well-established and newly-emerging techniques in this vital field.