The cytoskeleton is the major mechanical structure of a cell and consists of different protein biopolymers. It is a complex and dynamic network and in eukaryoptes it is composed of three main components, actin-microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules. All three kinds of filaments can grow and shrink rapidly according to the cell’s requirements by polymerization and disassembly (Fletcher and Mullins, 2010).
Microtubules are composed of α-tubulin and β-tubulin dimers. These assemble to protofilaments that finally associate and form the hollow microtubule. Microtubules are an important part of the cytoskeleton and provide shape and structure to eukaryotic cells.
In addition, they are involved in processes like cell division, intracellular transport and cell motility (Goodson and Jonasson, 2018).
Figure 2: Indirect immunostaining of PFA fixed paraffin embedded mouse eye section with mouse anti-α-tubulin (cat. no. 302 211, dilution 1 : 1000; AP-RED). Nuclei have been visualized by haematoxylin staining (blue).
As housekeeping genes, tubulins are abundantly expressed in all cell types and are therefore frequently used as loading controls in westernblot experiments. They are also commonly used marker-proteins to visualize the microtubular network in immunocytochemistry (ICC) (figure 1) and immunohistochemistry (IHC / IHC-P) (figure 2).
Synaptic Systems offers a broad species panel of monoclonal, polyclonal and recombinant antibodies against α-tubulin that do not discriminate between different posttranslational modifications.
This gives you maximum freedom to use our α-tubulin antibodies in combination with other antibodies of your choice in multiplex experiments.
| Cat. No. | Product Description | Application | Quantity | Price | Cart |
|---|
| 302 008 | α-Tubulin, rabbit, monoclonal, recombinant IgGrecombinant IgG | WB ICC IHC | 100 µg | $415.00 |   |
| 302 203 | α-Tubulin, rabbit, polyclonal, affinity purifiedaffinity | WB ICC IHC ELISA | 100 µg | $375.00 | |
| 302 204 | α-Tubulin , Guinea pig, polyclonal, antiserumantiserum | WB ICC IHC | 100 µl | $365.00 | |
| 302 206 | α-Tubulin, chicken, polyclonal, affinity purifiedaffinity | WB ICC IHC IHC-P | 50 µg | $380.00 | |
| 302 211 | α-Tubulin, mouse, monoclonal, recombinant IgGrecombinant IgG | WB IP ICC IHC IHC-P ELISA | 100 µg | $415.00 | |
| 302 211C3 | α-Tubulin, mouse, monoclonal, purified IgG IgG, Oyster 550 discontinued | ICC | 50 µg | | |
| 302 217 | α-Tubulin, rat, monoclonal, purified IgG IgG | WB ICC IHC | 100 µg | $415.00 | |
| 302 308 | α-Tubulin, Guinea pig, monoclonal, recombinant IgGrecombinant IgG | WB ICC IHC IHC-P | 50 µg | $415.00 | |
| 302 411 | α-Tubulin, mouse, monoclonal, purified IgM IgM K.O. | WB ICC IHC | 100 µg | $415.00 | |
In general, microtubules have a rather short half-life of 5-10 min. However, some posttranslationally modified tubulin variants can persist for hours. In general, posttranslational modifications modulate the polymerization and depolymerization of microtubules and play an important role in the fine-tuning of cytoskeleton dynamics (Infante, 2000).
Detyrosination / Tyrosination: The C-terminal tyrosine of a-tubulin is genetically encoded but can be posttranslationally removed by Vasohibins leading to the exposition of a free glutamate at the newly created C-terminus (Aillaud et al., 2017). This tubulin variant is often referred to as Glu-tubulin and is for example found in neurons or kidney glomeruli (figure 3). This detyrosination reaction can be reversed by the tubulin-tyrosine ligase (TTL). Tyrosinated a-tubulin is referred to as Tyr-tubulin and is essential for survival of mouse embryos after birth (Erck et al. 2005).
Polyglutamylation: Several glutamates (typically 4-6) are added to glutamate residues located in the C-terminal part of α-and β-tubulin (Edde et al., 1990; Wehland et al., 1992). This polyglutamylated tubulin occurs for example in neurons and the mitotic spindle.
Synaptic Systems offers well characterized monoclonal antibodies specific for Glu-tubulin, polyglutamylated tubulin and Tyr-tubulin.
Figure 3a: Indirect immunostaining of PFA fixed paraffin embedded mouse kidney section with rat anti-Tyr-α-tubulin (left, cat. no. 302 117, dilution 1 : 1000; DAB)
Figure 3b: mouse anti-Glu-α-tubulin (cat. no. 302 011, dilution 1 : 1000; DAB). Nuclei have been visualized by haematoxylin staining (blue).
Delta2: The irreversible removal of the last two residues of a-tubulin leads to the formation of delta2 or D2-tubulin. This highly stabilized alpha-tubulin variant is restricted to neurons and therefore frequently used as a marker for the labeling of the neuronal cytoskeleton (Paturle-Lafanechère et al., 1994) (figure 4).
b3 tubulin
Class III β-tubulin also known as TuJ1 is abundant in the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS) where it is prominently expressed during fetal and postnatal development (Katsetos et al. 2003). It has also been reported to be expressed in certain tumours of non-neuronal origin (Dráberovà et al., 1998) (figure 5).
Figure 5: Indirect immunostaining of PFA fixed mouse cortex section with mouse anti-β3-tubulin (cat. no. 302 311, dilution 1 : 5000, red). Nuclei have been visualized by DAPI staining (blue).
| Cat. No. | Product Description | Application | Quantity | Price | Cart |
|---|
| 302 302 | β3-Tubulin, rabbit, polyclonal, antiserumantiserum | WB IP ICC IHC IHC-P | 200 µl | $360.00 | |
| 302 304 | β3-Tubulin, Guinea pig, polyclonal, antiserumantiserum | WB IP ICC IHC IHC-P | 100 µl | $370.00 | |
| 302 306 | β3-Tubulin, chicken, polyclonal, IgY fractionIgY fraction | WB ICC IHC IHC-P | 200 µl | $360.00 | |
| 302 311 | β3-Tubulin, mouse, monoclonal, purified IgG IgG | WB IP ICC IHC IHC-P | 100 µg | $415.00 | |
| 302 213 | Δ2-tubulin, rabbit, polyclonal, affinity purifiedaffinity | WB ICC IHC IHC-P | 50 µg | $375.00 | |
| 302 011 | Glu-Tubulin, mouse, monoclonal, purified IgG IgG | WB ICC IHC IHC-P ELISA | 100 µg | $415.00 | |
| 302 117 | Tyr-α-tubulin, rat, monoclonal, purified IgG IgG K.O. | WB IP ICC IHC IHC-P | 100 µg | $415.00 | |
Aillaud et al., 2017: Vasohibins/SVBP are tubulin carboxypeptidases (TCPs) that regulate neuron differentiation. PMID: 29146868
Dráberovà et al., 1998: Expression of class III beta-tubulin in normal and neoplastic human tissues. PMID: 9541471
Edde et al., 1990: Posttranslational glutamylation of alpha-tubulin. PMID: 1967194
Erck et al., 2005: A vital role of tubulin-tyrosine-ligase for neuronal organization. PMID: 15899979
Fletcher and Mullins, 2010: Cell mechanics and the cytoskeleton. PMID: 20110992
Goodson and Jonasson, 2018: Microtubules and Microtubule-Associated Proteins. PMID: 29858272
Infante, 2000: Detyrosinated (Glu) microtubules are stabilized by an ATP-sensitive plus-end cap. PMID: 11058078
Katsetos et al. 2003: Class III beta-tubulin in human development and cancer. PMID: 12740870
Paturle-Lafanechère et al., 1994: Accumulation of delta 2-tubulin, a major tubulin variant that cannot be tyrosinated, in neuronal tissues and in stable microtubule assemblies. PMID: 7962195
Wehland et al., 1992: Class II tubulin, the major brain β tubulin isotype is polyglutamylated on glutamic acid residue. PMID: 1379548
