Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 1999, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (02): 182-185.doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB19990217

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The Polymerization and Denaturation of Brain Tubulin and the Effect of Taxol by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Yang Yong, Wang Bao-Huai, Li Zhi-Fen, Zhang You-Min, Han Gong-She, Yan Long-Fei   

  1. Institute of Physical Chemistry,Peking University,Beijing 100871|College of Biological Science,Beijing Agricultural University,Beijing 100094
  • Received:1998-03-02 Revised:1998-05-13 Published:1999-02-15
  • Contact: Wang Bao-Huai

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Abstract:

The thermal properties of porcine brain tubulin polymerization and denaturation and the effects of taxol were studied from 4 ℃ to 115 ℃ with a new highly-sensitive differential scanning calorimeter (Micro DSC Ⅲ, Setaram, France). The DSC results indicated that microtubule polymerization can proceed uia an endothermic process and that taxol could alter the process. A large aggregation peak was found at about 85 ℃ in the course of the denaturation and it disappeared with adding taxol. The heat flow oscillation was observed during the controlled-temperature experiments and taxol could stabilize the structure of the microtubules so that the oscillation disappeared.

Key words: Tubulin, Taxol, DSC, Polymerization, Denaturation, Thermal oscillation