Effects of microtubule (de)tyrosination on the morphology and motility of Trypanosoma brucei and cross-talk with polyglutamylation

DOI zum Zitieren der Version auf EPub Bayreuth: https://doi.org/10.15495/EPub_UBT_00009394
URN to cite this document: urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9394-7

Title data

Thein, Marinus ; Wunderlich, Hannes ; Brehm, Lucas ; Wagner, Stella ; Weiss, Matthias ; Ersfeld, Klaus:
Effects of microtubule (de)tyrosination on the morphology and motility of Trypanosoma brucei and cross-talk with polyglutamylation.
In: Biology Open. Vol. 14 (16 December 2025) Issue 12 . - bio062270.
ISSN 2046-6390
DOI der Verlagsversion: https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.062270

	Format: PDF Name: bio062270.pdf Version: Published Version Available under License Creative Commons BY 4.0: Attribution
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Project information

Project title:	Project's official title Project's id SPP 2332: Physik des Parasitismus 441960173 Open Access Publizieren No information
Project financing:	Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Abstract

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of microtubules control many aspects of their functionality. Specifically, the C-terminal tails of α- and β-tubulin harbour a complex array of PTMs, including polyglutamylation and the reversible detyrosination/tyrosination. The spatial proximity of these two distinct sets of PTMs suggests the possibility of a functional cross-talk between polyglutamylation and (de)tyrosination. In this study, we employ gene deletion and overexpression of the enzymes tubulin-tyrosine ligase (TTL) and tubulin-tyrosine carboxypeptidase (VASH) to provide a detailed analysis of the effects of (de)tyrosination on the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. While the deletion of either of the enzymes is not lethal, cells exhibit subtle morphological defects, resulting from both hyper- and hypotyrosination. Additionally, hypertyrosination leads to defects in motility, characterised by an increase in tumbling motion. Using the TTL and VASH deletion cells in conjunction with our previously generated trypanosomes deficient in polyglutamylation, we uncovered a cross-talk between these two PTMs. The process of microtubule detyrosination enhances polyglutamylation, which, in turn, stimulates efficient detyrosination, thus establishing a positive feedback loop between these two PTMs.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Keywords:	Trypanosoma brucei; Cytoskeleton; Microtubules; Post-translational modifications
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 530 Physics 500 Science > 570 Life sciences, biology
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics > Chair Experimental Physics I - Physics of Living Matter > Chair Experimental Physics I - Physics of Living Matter - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matthias Weiss Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics > Chair Experimental Physics I - Physics of Living Matter
Language:	English
Originates at UBT:	Yes
URN:	urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9394-7
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2026 12:34
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2026 12:35
URI:	https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/9394

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