Methods presented range from the purification and characterization of microtubule proteins, analysis of post-translational modifications of tubulin, and determination of microtubule structure, to the visualization of microtubule and spindle behavior, measurement of microtubule dynamics, and examination of microtubule-mediated cellular processes.

Microtubules.- Large Scale Purification of Brain Tubulin With the Modified Weisenberg Procedure.- Purification and Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Microtubule-Binding Proteins from Xenopus Egg Extracts.- Preparation and Characterization of Posttranslationally Modified Tubulins From Artemia franciscana.- Studying the Structure of Microtubules by Electron Microscopy.- Fluorescence Microscopy of Microtubules in Cultured Cells.- Measurements of Stathmin-Tubulin Interaction in Solution.- Analysis of Microtubule Dynamics by Polarized Light.- Visualization of Spindle Behavior Using Confocal Microscopy.- Live Cell Approaches for Studying Kinetochore-Microtubule Interactions in Drosophila.- Analysis of Tubulin Transport in Nerve Processes.- Analysis of Microtubule-Mediated Intracellular Viral Transport.- Xenopus Oocyte Wound Healing as a Model System for Analysis of Microtubule-Actin Interactions.- Screening for Inhibitors of Microtubule-Associated Motor Proteins.- Clinical Pharmacology and Use of Microtubule-Targeting Agents in Cancer Therapy.- Studying Drug-Tubulin Interactions by X-Ray Crystallography.- Characterizing Ligand-Microtubule Binding by Competition Methods.- Methods for Studying Vinca Alkaloid Interactions With Tubulin.- High-Throughput Screening of Microtubule-Interacting Drugs.- Strategies for the Development of Novel Taxol-Like Agents.

Microtubules are essential components of the cytoskeleton, and play critical roles in a variety of cell processes, including cell shaping, intracellular tracking, cell division, and cell migration. Microtubule Protocols presents a comprehensive collection of essential and up-to-date methods for studying both the biology of microtubules and the mechanisms of action of microtubule-interacting drugs. The straightforward presentation of readily reproducible protocols is a hallmark of the Methods in Molecular Medicine™ series, and is evident in this volume. Methods presented range from the purification and characterization of microtubule proteins, analysis of post-translational modifications of tubulin, and determination of microtubule structure, to the visualization of microtubule and spindle behavior, measurement of microtubule dynamics, and examination of microtubule-mediated cellular processes. Both basic scientists and clinical researchers will benefit from this collection of state-of-the-art protocols for microtubule research.