Tubulin beta-2A chain (TUBB2A) (TUBB2A)

Tubulin beta-2A chain (TUBB2A) is a fundamental component of the microtubule cytoskeleton, belonging to the beta-tubulin family of proteins [1.5.2, 1.5.4]. It forms heterodimers with alpha-tubulin to build microtubules, which are essential for maintaining cell structural integrity, facilitating intracellular transport, and enabling the formation of the mitotic spindle during cell division [1.5.3, 1.5.4]. As a class IIa isotype, TUBB2A is predominantly expressed in the brain and is critical for neurogenesis, neuronal migration, and cortical development [1.2.2, 1.3.1].\n\nPathogenic variants in the TUBB2A gene are associated with a spectrum of rare neurodevelopmental disorders known as tubulinopathies, which present with brain malformations, microcephaly, and infantile-onset epilepsy [1.2.2, 1.4.2]. In oncology, TUBB2A is frequently overexpressed in various cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer and gastric cancer, where it correlates with poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy [1.2.1, 1.5.2]. Therapeutic agents targeting tubulin, including taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel) and vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine), interact with TUBB2A to disrupt microtubule dynamics, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis [1.2.1, 1.3.1].

Other names

TUBB2ATUBB2CDCBM5Tubulin beta-2A class IIaβ-tubulin isotype IIaβ-tubulin – βIIa isotype

Microtubule stabilization and destabilization through binding to the taxane, vinca alkaloid, or colchicine sites on the tubulin heterodimer.