anti-Delta2-Tubulin, pAb (IN120)

Microtubules are key elements of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton that dynamically assemble from heterodimers of α- and β-tubulin. Two different mechanisms can generate microtubule diversity: the expression of different α- and β-tubulin genes, referred to as tubulin isotypes, and the generation of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) on α- and β-tubulin. Tubulin PTMs include the well-known acetylation or phosphorylation, and others that have so far mostly been found on tubulin, detyrosination/tyrosination, polyglutamylation and polyglycylation. These PTMs might have evolved to specifically regulate tubulin and microtubule functions. Delta 2 tubulin (Δ2-tubulin) is a specific posttranslationally modified form of α-tubulin. It is characterized by the removal of the C-terminal tyrosine residue (detyrosination) and an additional cleavage of the next-to-last glutamic acid residue, resulting in a truncated C-terminal tail. This modification makes Δ2-tubulin distinct from other tubulin isoforms and modifications.

Δ2-tubulin is primarily found in stable microtubules, such as those in neurons, centrioles, and cilia. It is abundant in tissues with long-lived, highly specialized structures. The removal of the C-terminal residues is associated with increased microtubule stability, making Δ2-tubulin a marker for stable, long-lived microtubule networks and plays a critical role in cellular processes requiring stable microtubules, such as intracellular trafficking, cell shape maintenance, and the proper functioning of axons and dendrites in neurons. Δ2-tubulin is also enriched in the microtubules of axonemes (the structural core of cilia and flagella), where it contributes to the structural integrity and function of these organelles.

Δ2-tubulin supports the stability of microtubules in neurons, aiding in the maintenance of axonal transport and synaptic connections. It is involved in centrosome organization and mitotic spindle stability, contributing to accurate cell division and it plays a role in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of motile cilia and flagella. Abnormalities in Δ2-tubulin levels or distribution have been associated with various conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, ciliary dysfunction disorders or cancer.