Tubulin--tyrosine ligase-like protein 8 (TTLL8)

Tubulin--tyrosine ligase-like protein 8 (TTLL8) is an enzyme in the TTLL family that initiates posttranslational monoglycylation of specific glutamate residues, primarily on alpha-tubulin but also on non-tubulin proteins. TTLL8, together with its paralog TTLL3, is responsible for the initiation of glycylation, which is a critical modification required for the structural integrity and function of cilia and flagella. This modification regulates axonemal dynein motor activity and is essential for proper flagellar beating and sperm motility, thus influencing male fertility. TTLL8 is predicted to act mainly within the axoneme and the microtubule cytoskeleton, and is particularly important in cells with motile cilia or flagella, such as sperm. Mutations that reduce or eliminate TTLL8 activity lead to perturbed flagellar movement and can cause subfertility due to abnormal sperm motility patterns. TTLL8 also monoglycylates non-tubulin proteins, although the physiological impact of these activities is less well characterized. There are currently no known drugs or specific therapeutic mechanisms involving TTLL8, and it is not considered a direct therapeutic target at this time.

Other names

Protein monoglycylase TTLL8Tubulin tyrosine ligase like 8Tubulin--tyrosine ligase-like protein 8TTLL8Tubulin tyrosine ligase-like family, member 8protein monoglycylase TTLL8