Nexin
Nexin (from Latin nexus - shortcut), a highly elastic protein , belongs to the group of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). It is the connection between cilia and flagella in eukaryotic cells .
properties
About 2% of Nexin is involved in the structure of the flagella and cilia as well as the axoneme . Its molecular mass is 165 kDa. It is insoluble in acid and resembles tubulin in many ways; gel electrophoresis gives almost the same results. Despite the same name, Nexin is not related to the protease inhibitors . It is also characterized by its high elasticity, a nexin bridge of 30 nm length can be stretched up to 250 nm without tearing the molecule.
function
Nexin links the parallel double-tubular peripheral tubule doublets in the axoneme lengthwise in the form of nexin bands, one period is about 86 nm long. The ligaments form a flexurally elastic framework and serve as an abutment against Dynein -mediated movements of the neighboring microtubule doublets.