Alpha tubulin posttranslational modification by taurine is very unevenly distributed in different tissues and different cells

Abstract

Microtubules are polymers of alpha-beta tubulin heterodimers assembled with their C-terminal ‘tails' on the outside of the microtubule. These tail peptides are the site for many post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as reversible de-tyrosination/re-tyrosination. We have identified a new PTM in which taurine is covalently bound to the extreme terminus of a detyrosinated alpha-tubulin tail. Taurine is a beta-amino acid that is very abundant in many tissues, never before observed covalently incorporated into any protein.