Delta-tubulin and epsilon-tubulin: two new human centrosomal tubulins reveal new aspects of centrosome structure and function

Abstract

The centrosome organizes microtubules, which are made up of alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin, and contains centrosome-bound gamma-tubulin, which is involved in microtubule nucleation. Here we identify two new human tubulins and show that they are associated with the centrosome. One is a homologue of the Chlamydomonas delta-tubulin Uni3, and the other is a new tubulin, which we have named epsilon-tubulin. Localization of delta-tubulin and epsilon-tubulin to the centrosome is independent of microtubules, and the patterns of localization are distinct from each other and from that of gamma-tubulin. Delta-tubulin is found in association with the centrioles, whereas epsilon-tubulin localizes to the pericentriolar material. epsilon-Tubulin exhibits a cell-cycle-specific pattern of localization, first associating with only the older of the centrosomes in a newly duplicated pair and later associating with both centrosomes. epsilon-Tubulin thus distinguishes the old centrosome from the new at the level of the pericentriolar material, indicating that there may be a centrosomal maturation event that is marked by the recruitment of epsilon-tubulin.