Small-angle neutron scattering studies of tubulin ring polymers

We applied SANS to study nanoscale structures formed from tubulin and either of two similar peptides, cryptophycin1 and dolastatin10. A simple bead ring model adequately describes the cryptophycin-tubulin data, indicating high monodispersity and non-association of the rings. In contrast, dolastatin-tubulin samples show secondary assembly of larger structures. Analysis indicates that these macrostructures may contain locally stacked rings