Molecular Mechanisms and Cellular Functions of Tubulin in Neuronal Health and Disease
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 143
Special Issue Editor
Interests: neuromuscular disorders; neurodegenerative; tubulin
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Tubulins are the building blocks of microtubules, highly dynamic cytoskeletal structures involved in a wide of cellular functions, including cell motility, mitosis, and intracellular transport.
Within cells, microtubules display an exceptional degree of chemical and functional heterogeneity, generated through the incorporation of distinct tubulin isotypes, extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs), and interactions with a diverse array of microtubule-associated proteins.
Microtubules are critical in neurons, where their polarized organization provides structural support to axons and dendrites, maintains neuronal polarity, and enables long-range bidirectional transport of organelles, vesicles, and proteins mediated by motor proteins. Proper regulation of microtubule dynamics and PTMs is therefore essential for neuronal development, plasticity, and survival.
Disruption of microtubule organization, tubulin composition, or regulatory mechanisms is increasingly recognized as a central pathophysiological feature of numerous neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, such as tubulinopathies, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Although microtubule dysregulation is widely acknowledged as a key driver of neurological disease progression, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood, and further investigation is warranted, as modulation of microtubules currently represents a promising target of intervention. This Special Issue aims to address these gaps by highlighting recent advances in cytoskeletal biology and its implications for neurological disorders.
Dr. Antonella Sferra
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- tubulin
- microtubules
- neurodegeneration
- neuron
- brain
- neurodevelopment
- motor proteins
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