MAP4 Regulates Tubulin to Control Cardiac Disease

Introduction

Microtubules (MTs) are long, tube-like structures formed by uniformly assembled conserved α/β-tubulin subunits ¹. They are one of the main components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton¹. MTs interact with MT-associated proteins (MAPs) and assemble into specialized structures to perform diverse cellular functions ². Specifically, they are critical in the assembly of mitotic and meiotic spindles, neuronal development, and the formation of the ciliary axoneme ². MAPs are diverse groups of effector proteins that bind to the MTs within the cell, promoting their polymerization, stability, structure and function ². MAPs have unique structures that are critical for their function in various cellular processes such as cell division, cell motility, intracellular organization, and trafficking of organelles, among others ³.

MAPs can be categorized into two main types: structural MAPs and molecular motors ^4,5. Structural MAPs are crucial in the organization and stability of MT cytoskeleton ⁴. On the other hand, molecular motors facilitate molecules' movement along the MTs ⁴.  Structural MAPs —MAP2, tau, and MAP4— are well characterized and perform various functions ^6,7. MAP2 and tau are mainly expressed in neuronal cells. In contrast, MAP4 is a cytosolic MT binding protein ubiquitously expressed in many cells and tissues and is critical for regulating MT dynamics ^8,9. MAPs regulate tubulin dynamics through post-translational modifications (PTMs)^3,10; thus, tight regulation of tubulin PTMs is critical for proper function. This newsletter will explore MAP4's intricate role in controlling cardiac disease pathways through its control of tubulin dynamics.

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• Tubulin and Microtubule Tools
• Related Publications