Tubulin heterogeneity regulates functions and dynamics of microtubules and plays a role in the development of drug resistance in cancer.
Microtubules, composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers, exhibit diverse structural and functional properties in different cell types. The diversity in the microtubule structure originates from tubulin heterogeneities, namely tubulin isotypes and their post-translational modifications (PTMs). These heterogeneities confer differential stability to microtubules and provide spatial cues for the functioning of the cell. Furthermore, the altered expressions of tubulin isotypes and PTMs are prominent factors for the development of resistance against some cancer drugs. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the tubulin isotypes and PTMs and how, together, they control the cellular functions of the microtubules. We also describe how cancer cells use this tubulin heterogeneity to acquire resistance against clinical agents and discuss existing attempts to counter the developed resistance.
['Prassanawar|Shweta Shyam|SS|', 'Panda|Dulal|D|0000-0002-9885-4500']
D000818:Animals D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic D006801:Humans D008870:Microtubules D009363:Neoplasm Proteins D009369:Neoplasms D020033:Protein Isoforms D014404:Tubulin
microtubules drug resistance cancer tubulin isotypes tubulin PTMs