More is not always better: hyperglutamylation leads to neurodegeneration

Abstract

Post‐translational modifications of tubulin can regulate the dynamics and mechanical properties of microtubules and their interactions with different proteins, such as molecular motors. Two studies now demonstrate that excessive accumulation of a specific modification, polyglutamylation, leads to neurodegeneration in mice and humans, likely due to defects in axonal microtubule‐based transport. The EMBO Journal (2018) 37: e101023