Decoding Cellular Mechanics: The Tubulin Code Unveiled

Researchers from EPFL and the University of Geneva have developed "designer tubulins" with specific post-translational modifications (PTMs) to gain insights into the functions of tubulin in cells. By engineering tubulins with precise combinations of PTMs, the team discovered an interaction between two key PTMs, polyglutamylation and detyrosination, which play crucial roles in diseases. This new method of producing tubulins with defined PTMs can advance our understanding of their molecular function and provide insights into how dysregulation of these PTMs leads to diseases.