Effects of S-100 Proteins on Assembly of Brain Microtubule Proteins: Correlation Between Kinetic and Ultrastructural Data

Microtubules formed in vitro in the presence of S-100 proteins and micromolar Ca2+ concentrations are fewer in number and longer than those formed in the presence of Ca2+ alone. Moreover, microtubules growing after addition of microtubule fragments to a microtubule protein solution in the presence of S-100 are shorter than those growing in its absence. These data lend support to previous results of kinetic studies indicating that S-100 interferes with both the nucleation and the elongation of microtubules in vitro.