The tubulin code at a glance.
Microtubules are key cytoskeletal elements of all eukaryotic cells and are assembled of evolutionarily conserved α-tubulin-β-tubulin heterodimers. Despite their uniform structure, microtubules fulfill a large diversity of functions. A regulatory mechanism to control the specialization of the microtubule cytoskeleton is the 'tubulin code', which is generated by (i) expression of different α- and β-tubulin isotypes, and by (ii) post-translational modifications of tubulin. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular components of the tubulin code, and discuss the mechanisms by which these components contribute to the generation of functionally specialized microtubules.
Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.|Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.
Sudarshan
S
Gadadhar
Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.|Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.
Satish
S
Bodakuntla
Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.|Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.
Kathiresan
K
Natarajan
Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France Carsten.Janke@curie.fr.|Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay F-91405, France.
Carsten
0000-0001-7053-2000
C
Janke
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014404:Tubulin
Detyrosination; Glutamylation; Glycylation; Tubulin code; Tubulin isotypes