Microtubules are cytoskeletal filaments central to a wide range of essential cellular functions in eukaryotic cells. Consequently, cells need to exert tight control over when, where and how many microtubules are being made. Whereas the regulation of microtubule dynamics is well studied, the molecular mechanisms of microtubule nucleation are still poorly understood. Next to the established master template of nucleation, the γ-tubulin ring complex, other microtubule-associated proteins that affect microtubule dynamic properties have recently been found to contribute to nucleation. It has begun to emerge that the nucleation efficiency is controlled not only by template activity but also by, either additionally or alternatively, the stabilization of the nascent microtubule 'nucleus'. This suggests a simple conceptual framework for the mechanisms regulating microtubule nucleation in cells.

微管是真核细胞中广泛的基本细胞功能中心的细胞骨架丝。因此，细胞需要对何时，何地以及多少微管进行严格控制。尽管对微管动力学的调节进行了深入研究，但对微管成核的分子机制仍知之甚少。除了已建立的成核主模板外，最近还发现γ-微管蛋白环复合物以及其他影响微管动态特性的微管相关蛋白也有助于成核。已经开始出现，成核效率不仅通过模板活性来控制，而且还通过新生微管“核”的稳定来控制。