Background of the antigen
Microtubules, polymers of alpha and beta tubulin subunits,form the mitotic spindle of a dividing cell and help to organizemembranous organelles during interphase. Katanin is a heterodimerthat consists of a 60 kDa ATPase (p60 subunit A 1) and an 80 kDaaccessory protein (p80 subunit B 1). The p60 subunit acts to severand disassemble microtubules, while the p80 subunit targets theenzyme to the centrosome. Katanin is a member of the AAA family ofATPases.