Microtubule posttranslational modifications provide unique recognition patterns for associated proteins.

Microtubule posttranslational modifications selectively regulate microtubule-associated protein interactions, supporting the tubulin code hypothesis.

• Why it matters: Understanding how microtubules adapt to diverse cellular functions is crucial, as the tubulin code could enable specific signaling pathways and cellular responses.
• What they did: Researchers screened 46 proteins using an in vitro method to assess their binding preferences to microtubules with different PTMs and isotypes, revealing differential sensitivities.
• The result: Findings show that subsets of MAPs are uniquely affected by PTMs, enabling specific attraction or repulsion, which advances our understanding of how the tubulin code controls microtubule functions.