Beta II tubulin, also known as β tubulin protein, is a major component of microtubules, a crucial element of the cellular cytoskeleton. Microtubules are formed by the alternating arrangement of αtubulin and βtubulin proteins. Structurally, β tubulin protein mainly consists of a core β-helix domain and several auxiliary structures. The core β-helix domain serves as the primary functional region, capable of binding with αtubulin protein to form αβ-dimers, which further polymerize into microtubules. The auxiliary structures, including the variable N-terminal and C-terminal regions, contribute to the functional diversity among different β tubulin proteins. Moreover, β tubulin protein is encoded by multiple homologous gene families, such as TUBB1, TUBB2, and TUBB3. While these genes encode proteins with potential sequence variations, they share similarities in structure and function. βtubulin protein plays a pivotal role in the formation and function of microtubules. It is involved in the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, crucial for cellular structural support, intracellular transport, DNA segregation, and other vital processes.
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