Abstract:

Objective     To investigate the relationship between vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), serine 157/serine 239 phosphorylated VASP (pVASP S157/p-VASP S239) and α-Tubulin, and to confirm VASP as a new microtubule-associated protein (MAP).  Methods    The co-localization of p-VASP S157/p-VASP S239 and α-Tubulin in Hela cells were analyzed by the immunofluorescencent assay. Co-immunoprecipitation assay, Microtubule pelleting assay and Western blot assay were applied to detect the combination between VASP/phosphor-VASP and α-Tubulin.  Results   VASP and p-VASP S157 could bind with α-Tubulin. p-VASP S239 did not co-localize with α-Tubulin during the whole cell cycle.  Conclusion    VASP is a new microtubule-associated protein, and the serine 157 phosphorylation of the protein is involved in the association between VASP and α-Tubulin.

Key words: Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein; Phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein; αTubulin; Microtubule-associated protein;  Human cervix cancer cell line