Zn2+ decoration of microtubules arrests axonal transport and displaces tau, doublecortin, and MAP2C

Changes in zinc levels have been observed in neuronal cells and have the potential to alter intraneuronal signaling; however, the precise mechanisms by which they elicit downstream effects have not been elucidated. Recent work by Minckley T. et al. identified Tubulin as an important target for zinc in the regulation of neuronal function. Preliminary live cell imaging studies were used to show that increased zinc levels resulted in a measurable reduction in both lysosome and mitochondria motility. As the transport of these organelles is facilitated by kinesins, the group examined whether zinc affected these motor proteins. Indeed, they found that zinc directly inhibits KIF5A kinesin motility which they determined using an inducible cargo trafficking assay...

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