Alexa Fluor® 488 Anti-Tubulin antibody [YL1/2] - Microtubule Marker

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Activity summary

Tubulin sometimes called DM1B is a globular protein essential for the formation of microtubules. It has a molecular mass of approximately 55 kDa. Tubulin is expressed in most eukaryotic cells and exists as two closely related subunits alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin. These subunits polymerize to form linear microtubule structures. Anti-tubulin antibodies such as anti-tubulin Alexa 34 can detect these microtubule markers in cells allowing researchers to visualize cytoskeletal organization.

Biological function summary

This core component of microtubule assembly is important for maintaining cell shape enabling intracellular transport and segregating chromosomes during cell division. As part of a complex tubulin interacts with various microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) that regulate its dynamic assembly and disassembly. This regulation is important for processes like axonal transport in neurons and the movement of cilia and flagella in other cell types.

Pathways

Tubulin plays a significant role in the mitotic spindle assembly part of the cell cycle. This process is vital for the accurate segregation of chromosomes to daughter cells. Tubulin interacts with the kinesin and dynein motor proteins within this pathway which are essential for intracellular transport and mitosis. Another key pathway involving tubulin is the intracellular trafficking facilitated by motor proteins which is necessary for maintaining cell homeostasis and function.

Associated diseases and disorders

Aberrant regulation or mutations in tubulin can lead to conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In cancer altered tubulin dynamics contribute to uncontrolled cell proliferation. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease show involvement with tubulin through abnormal microtubule stability often linked to the MAP tau protein. Anti-tubulin antibodies including LAMP1 can help in research related to these conditions by offering methods to study tubulin distribution and function in diseased cells.