Scientists have discovered a new "letter" in the tubulin code, which is important (not only) for the development of neurons.

The tubulin code is the alphabet that cells use to control the behavior of their skeleton—microtubules. This code influences neuron development and brain plasticity (the ability to change the strength of connections between neurons), and its disorders are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Scientists from the Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences at the BIOCEV center, in collaboration with foreign colleagues, have now described a previously unknown modification that adds a new "letter" to this alphabet.