DRG2 Deficiency Causes Impaired Microtubule Dynamics in HeLa Cells

• Published in: Molecules and cells Vol. 41; no. 12; pp. 1045 - 1051
• Main Authors: Dang, Thao, Jang, Soo Hwa, Back, Sung Hoon, Park, Jeong Woo, Han, In-Seob
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 31.12.2018; 한국분자세포생물학회
• Subjects: Cell Proliferation - physiology; Gene Knockdown Techniques; GTP-Binding Proteins - deficiency; HeLa Cells; Humans; Microtubules - metabolism; Phosphorylation; tau Proteins - metabolism; Transfection; 생물학; DRG2; tau; microtubule dynamics
• ISSN: 1016-8478; 0219-1032
• DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2018.0129

The developmentally regulated GTP binding protein 2 (DRG2) is involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that DRG2 regulates microtubule dynamics in HeLa cells. Analysis of live imaging of the plus-ends of microtubules with EB1-EGFP showed that DRG2 deficiency (shDRG2) significantly reduced the growth rate of HeLa cells. Depletion of DRG2 increased 'slow and long-lived' subpopulations, but decreased 'fast and short-lived' subpopulations of microtubules. Microtubule polymerization inhibitor exhibited a reduced response in shDRG2 cells. Using immunoprecipitation, we show that DRG2 interacts with tau, which regulates microtubule polymerization. Collectively, these data demonstrate that DRG2 may aid in affecting microtubule dynamics in HeLa cells.