Microtubules are polarized cytoskeletal filaments that serve as tracks for intracellular transport and form a scaffold that positions organelles and other cellular components and modulates cell shape and mechanics. In animal cells, the geometry, density and directionality of microtubule networks are major determinants of cellular architecture, polarity and proliferation. In dividing cells, microtubules form bipolar spindles that pull chromosomes apart, whereas in interphase cells, microtubules are organized in a cell type-specific fashion, which strongly correlates with cell physiology. In motile cells, such as fibroblasts and immune cells, microtubules are organized as radial asters, whereas in immotile epithelial and neuronal cells and in muscles, microtubules form parallel or antiparallel arrays and cortical meshworks. Here, we review recent work addressing how the formation of such microtubule networks is driven by the plethora of microtubule regulatory proteins. These include proteins that nucleate or anchor microtubule ends at different cellular structures and those that sever or move microtubules, as well as regulators of microtubule elongation, stability, bundling or modifications. The emerging picture, although still very incomplete, shows a remarkable diversity of cell-specific mechanisms that employ conserved building blocks to adjust microtubule organization in order to facilitate different cellular functions.

微管是极化的细胞骨架丝，可作为细胞内运输的轨道，并形成定位细胞器和其他细胞成分并调节细胞形状和力学的支架。在动物细胞中，微管网络的几何形状、密度和方向性是细胞结构、极性和增殖的主要决定因素。在分裂细胞中，微管形成双极纺锤体，将染色体拉开，而在间期细胞中，微管以细胞类型特异性方式组织，这与细胞生理学密切相关。在成纤维细胞和免疫细胞等运动细胞中，微管组织成放射状紫苑，而在不动的上皮细胞和神经元细胞以及肌肉中，微管形成平行或反平行阵列和皮质网状结构。这里，我们回顾了最近的工作，这些工作解决了这种微管网络的形成是如何由过多的微管调节蛋白驱动的。这些包括在不同细胞结构处成核或锚定微管末端的蛋白质和切断或移动微管的蛋白质，以及微管伸长、稳定性、捆绑或修饰的调节剂。新出现的图片虽然仍然非常不完整，但显示了细胞特异性机制的显着多样性，这些机制采用保守的构建块来调整微管组织，以促进不同的细胞功能。这些包括在不同细胞结构处成核或锚定微管末端的蛋白质和切断或移动微管的蛋白质，以及微管伸长、稳定性、捆绑或修饰的调节剂。新出现的图片虽然仍然非常不完整，但显示了细胞特异性机制的显着多样性，这些机制采用保守的构建块来调整微管组织，以促进不同的细胞功能。这些包括在不同细胞结构处成核或锚定微管末端的蛋白质和切断或移动微管的蛋白质，以及微管伸长、稳定性、捆绑或修饰的调节剂。新出现的图片虽然仍然非常不完整，但显示了细胞特异性机制的显着多样性，这些机制采用保守的构建块来调整微管组织，以促进不同的细胞功能。