Beta I tubulin, also classified as β3-tubulin or class I β-tubulin, is a key component of microtubules—dynamic cytoskeletal structures critical for cell division, intracellular transport, and maintaining cell shape. Encoded by the TUBB gene in humans, it forms heterodimers with α-tubulin, which polymerize into microtubule networks. Beta I tubulin is ubiquitously expressed across mammalian tissues, though specific isoforms (e.g., βIII-tubulin) show tissue-specific patterns, such as neuronal enrichment.
Antibodies targeting beta I tubulin are widely used as research tools to visualize microtubules in techniques like immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Due to its stable expression, beta I tubulin antibodies often serve as loading controls in protein analysis. These antibodies typically recognize conserved epitopes, enabling cross-reactivity in diverse species, including humans, mice, and rats. Monoclonal clones (e.g., AA2) and polyclonal variants are commercially available, with validation emphasizing specificity to avoid cross-reactivity with other β-tubulin isoforms.
In research, beta I tubulin antibodies help study microtubule-related processes, such as mitotic defects, neuronal development, and intracellular trafficking. They are also employed in cancer studies to assess mitotic activity or drug responses targeting microtubule dynamics (e.g., taxanes). Dysregulation of tubulin expression or polymerization is linked to neurodegenerative disorders, ciliopathies, and chemotherapy resistance, underscoring its biomedical relevance. Proper experimental controls, including isoform-specific validation, are essential to ensure data accuracy.