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  • Vasohibins/SVBP are tubulin carboxypeptidases (TCPs) that regulate neuron differentiation.

Vasohibins/SVBP are tubulin carboxypeptidases (TCPs) that regulate neuron differentiation.

Science (New York, N.Y.) (2017-11-18)
Chrystelle Aillaud, Christophe Bosc, Leticia Peris, Anouk Bosson, Pierre Heemeryck, Juliette Van Dijk, Julien Le Friec, Benoit Boulan, Frédérique Vossier, Laura E Sanman, Salahuddin Syed, Neri Amara, Yohann Couté, Laurence Lafanechère, Eric Denarier, Christian Delphin, Laurent Pelletier, Sandrine Humbert, Matthew Bogyo, Annie Andrieux, Krzysztof Rogowski, Marie-Jo Moutin
PMID29146868
ABSTRACT

Reversible detyrosination of α-tubulin is crucial to microtubule dynamics and functions, and defects have been implicated in cancer, brain disorganization, and cardiomyopathies. The identity of the tubulin tyrosine carboxypeptidase (TCP) responsible for detyrosination has remained unclear. We used chemical proteomics with a potent irreversible inhibitor to show that the major brain TCP is a complex of vasohibin-1 (VASH1) with the small vasohibin binding protein (SVBP). VASH1 and its homolog VASH2, when complexed with SVBP, exhibited robust and specific Tyr/Phe carboxypeptidase activity on microtubules. Knockdown of vasohibins or SVBP and/or inhibitor addition in cultured neurons reduced detyrosinated α-tubulin levels and caused severe differentiation defects. Furthermore, knockdown of vasohibins disrupted neuronal migration in developing mouse neocortex. Thus, vasohibin/SVBP complexes represent long-sought TCP enzymes.