RecyclingTubulinWe"recycle"tubulinfractionsstoredat-80¡CafterthePCcolumnandstoretherecycledtubulininsmallaliquotsforday-to-dayuse.WegenerallystorerecycledtubulininInjectionBuffer(IB)withoutfreeGTP.WedothisbecausedepolymerizationappearstobemuchbetterinIB,IBisidealformicroinjections/addingtubulintoextracts,andtheabsenceoffreeGTPmakespolymerizationwithGMPCPP,averyusefulGTPanalogthathas~5-10XloweraffinitythanGTPfortubulin,relativelystraightforward. Backtoprotocols 5XBRB80:(1X=80mMK-Pipes,1mMMgCl2,1mMEGTA,pH6.8withKOH;store5XBRB80stockat4¡C)10XIB:500mMK-glutamate;5mMMgCl2,(pHof1X~7.0;store10Xstockat-20¡C;seelabelingsectionfordetailsonmakingupIB)Cushion:60%glycerolin1XBRB80(warm=37¡C)100mMGTPGlycerolSmallDounce(2ml)50.2Tirotor(warm=37¡C) TLA100.2or100.3rotor(cold=2-4¡C)II.RecyclingProtocol1.Thaw3-43mlPCcolumnfractionsat37¡C.Transfertoiceandmixina50mlconical.2.AddBRB80to0.5X,4mMMgCl2and1mMGTP.ThisisassumingthatthetubulinaliquotsareinCB(50mMK-Pipes,pH6.8;1mMEGTA;0.2mMMgCl2).Thus,thefinalbuffercompositionis90mMK-Pipes,pH6.7,1.5mMEGTA,4.2mMMgCl2,1mMGTP.Mixbyswirlingandstoreonicefor5".3.Transferto37¡C.After2"addhalfvolumeofglycerol(Ifinditconvenienttopourintheglycerolonabalance,usingdensityforglycerol=1.26g/ml).Mixtheglycerolinbygentlevortexing.Incubateat37¡Cfor40".4.Layeronawarmcushion(10-14ml)intwo50.2Ti(orequivalent)tubes.Spinfor45"at40Kat35¡Cina50.2rotor.5.Aspiratesample,rinsesamplecushioninterfacewithwarmIXIB2-3times.Aspiratecompletelyandrinsethetubulinpellet2Xwithwarm1XIBtoremoveanyresidualglycerol.Dothiswhilethepelletisheldina37¡Cbath--filltube~half-waywithwarmIB(rinsingsidesandpelletwell),thenaspirateandrepeat.ThisgreatlyreducesglycerolandGTPcontaminationinthefinaltubulinstock.6.ResUSPendpelletin1-2mloficecoldIB(theexactvolumewilldependontheconcentrationandpolymerizABIlityofthetubulininthecolumnfractions).TransferthechunkypelletinIBtoanice-cold2mldounce.Gentlydounceonicetobreakupthechunks.Incubateonicefor30".Duringthiscolddepolymerization,keepdouncinggentlyevery2"-3".Gentlesonicationcanalsobeusedtobreakupthepellets.7.Spin90KinTLA100.2orTLA100.3rotorat2¡Cfor10"-15"toclarifythedepolymerizationmix.8.CollectsupernatantoniceandmeasureA280ofa1/100dilutioninIB.Calculateconcentrationoftubulinusinganextinctioncoefficientat280nmof115,000M-1cm-1.Freezein10-50µlaliquotsinliquidnitrogenandstoreat-80¡C.(Note:1mg/mltubulin=10µM)I.Solutions&Supplies