Parasite beta-tubulin (β-tubulin)

Parasite beta-tubulin is a fundamental cytoskeletal protein in helminths and certain protozoa, where it forms heterodimers with alpha-tubulin to assemble microtubules (MDPI, 2023). These microtubules are essential for critical cellular functions, including mitosis, intracellular transport, and the maintenance of the parasite's structural integrity and motility (PLOS, 2021; ResearchGate, 2024). In the context of anthelmintic therapy, parasite beta-tubulin serves as the primary molecular target for the benzimidazole class of drugs, such as albendazole (Wikipedia, 2024). Albendazole and its active metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, bind with high affinity to the colchicine-sensitive site of the parasite's beta-tubulin, effectively inhibiting the polymerization of tubulin subunits into functional microtubules (StatPearls, 2023; NIH, 2023). This disruption leads to a failure in glucose uptake, depletion of glycogen stores, and a subsequent decrease in ATP production, which ultimately results in the immobilization and death of the parasite (NIH, 2023; FDA, 2025). A major challenge in the clinical use of drugs targeting this protein is the emergence of resistance, which is frequently associated with specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the beta-tubulin gene, such as the F200Y mutation (NIH, 2021; ResearchGate, 2024).

Other names

Tubulin beta chainHelminth beta-tubulinBeta-tubulin isotype 1Beta-tubulin isotype 2

Albendazole and its active metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, bind to the colchicine-sensitive site of parasite beta-tubulin, inhibiting the polymerization of tubulin dimers into microtubules (StatPearls, 2023; Wikipedia, 2024). This disruption leads to impaired glucose uptake, depletion of glycogen stores, and reduced ATP production, ultimately causing parasite immobilization and death (NIH, 2023; FDA, 2025).