Figure I. Severing-Dependent Microtubule Disassembly.

(A,B) Overexpression of spastin in a rat fibroblast fragments the microtubules. Bar, 10 μm. Adapted from [54]. (C) Model scheme of microtubule loss due to severing. The newly created plus end without a GTP cap rapidly depolymerizes. Under low- or no-rescue conditions, severing eventually leads to a decrease of microtubule length, number, and mass.