Figure 1. Stereotyped distribution of tubulin posttranslational modifications in the neuron.
Schematic of a neuron showing the distribution of tubulin modifications in the soma, dendrites, axon and growth cone. Insets show the microtubule surface covered with a lawn of disordered negatively-charged tubulin tails; from top to bottom (1) Microtubules in dendrites are tyrosinated and glutamylated with short glutamate chains; MAP2 concentrates in dendrites and interacts with tubulin tails (2) Microtubules in axons are detyrosinated, glutamylated with long glutamate chains; (3) Cross-section of a microtubule showing acetylation on lumenal Lys40; Tau concentrates in axons and interacts with tubulin tails (4) Dynamic microtubules in the growth cone are tyrosinated.
