MAP-1 and MAP-2 binding sites at the C-terminus of beta-tubulin. Studies with synthetic tubulin peptides.

The interaction of microtubule-associated proteins MAP-1 and MAP-2 with different peptides containing sequences covering the C-terminal region of beta-tubulin isoforms has been analyzed. Our results indicate that MAP-1 and MAP-2 bind to a common sequence within the variable C-terminal region of the different beta-tubulin isoforms, while MAP-2 also interacts with the subdomain beta (422-434) of the constant region, in agreement with previous results (Maccioni, R.B., Rivas, C., & Vera, J.C. (1988) EMBO J. 7, 1957-1963). The productive interaction of MAP-2 with the latter domain appears to be involved in the assembly of microtubules.