Cy3 ® Anti-beta Tubulin antibody [TUB 2.1] – Microtubule Marker

Supplementary info

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

Activity summary

Beta tubulin also known as beta-tubulin or β-tubulin is a globular protein with a molecular weight of approximately 50 kDa. It is a major component of microtubules which are cylindrical structures vital for maintaining cell shape and enabling intracellular transport. This protein is expressed widely in eukaryotic cells and plays a role in mitosis and meiosis by forming the spindle apparatus important for chromosome separation during cell division. The size of beta tubulin allows it to effectively polymerize with alpha tubulin forming heterodimers which are the building blocks of the microtubule network.

Biological function summary

This protein contributes significantly to the dynamic instability of microtubules allowing rapid assembly and disassembly which is essential for cellular processes like motility signaling and maintaining the cell’s architecture. Beta tubulin operates as part of the tubulin family which includes several related proteins within microtubule structures. The beta-tubulin molecules in microtubules are critical for the interactions with microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and motor proteins such as kinesin and dynein influencing trafficking and positioning of organelles within the cell.

Pathways

Beta tubulin plays key roles in the mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint ensuring accurate chromosome segregation. It is actively involved in the microtubule pathway and has associations with signaling pathways such as the Wnt signaling pathway which affects cell growth and differentiation. Through these pathways beta tubulin interacts with proteins like tau and MAP2 which stabilize microtubules to control their functional dynamics within the cell.

Associated diseases and disorders

Mutations or dysregulations in beta tubulin can affect neurological and proliferative conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Beta tubulin is notably linked to Alzheimer's disease where tau protein tangles disrupt normal microtubule function. It also connects to diseases like paclitaxel-resistant cancer where altered beta tubulin isoform expression can lead to chemotherapy resistance. The interaction of beta tubulin with tau and alpha tubulin provides further insight into etiological mechanisms of these conditions.