Structural plasticity of tubulin assembly probed by vinca-domain ligands

The structure of ustiloxin D bound to tubulin was determined at a resolution which allows interatomic interactions to be defined and provides a basis for the structure-based design of ligands with improved activity. It is also shown how local interactions of vinca-domain ligands with tubulin influence the relative positioning of the latter and lead to the large-scale polymorphism of ligand-mediated tubulin assemblies.