Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40757679›Full record

ArticleDevelopmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists2026

Possible role of microtubules in vesicular transport of matrix protein during sea urchin larval biomineralization.

Areen Qassem, Tsvia Gildor, Smadar Ben-Tabou de-Leon

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Areen QassemDepartment of Marine Biology, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5033-8416
Tsvia GildorDepartment of Marine Biology, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0321-5950
Smadar Ben-Tabou de-LeonDepartment of Marine Biology, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9497-4938

Funding

Israel Science Foundation 211/20
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBiomineralization is a vital biological process through which organisms produce mineralized structures such as shells, skeletons, and teeth. Microtubules are essential for biomineralization in various eukaryotic species; however, their specific roles in this process remain unclear.

resultsHere, we investigated the structure and function of microtubule filaments and their co-localization with matrix and focal adhesion proteins during the elongation of the calcite spicules of the sea urchin larva. First, we show that inhibiting microtubule polymerization using Nocodazole in whole embryos and isolated skeletogenic cell cultures results in a significant reduction of skeletal growth and affects skeletal morphology. Next, we demonstrate that microtubule filaments elongate from around the skeletogenic nuclei to the biomineralization compartment where they overlap with active focal adhesion kinase. The expression of spicule matrix proteins overlaps with microtubule filaments around the nuclei and with microtubule filaments that elongate to the spicule cavity.

conclusionsWe propose that vesicles bearing matrix proteins are trafficked on microtubules to the spicule cavity where their exocytosis is assisted by focal adhesions. The role of microtubules in biomineralization from unicellular algae to human bones suggests that the proposed microtubule-guided vesicle transport into the biomineralization compartment could be a common mechanism in Eukaryotes' biomineralization.

Indexed as

BiomineralizationMicrotubulesSea UrchinsAnimalsLarvabiomineralizationfocal adhesionsmatrix proteinmicrotubulessea urchinvesicular trafficking

Identifiers

PMID40757679
PMCPMC13260876

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