Microtubules (MTs) undergo diverse posttranslational modifications that regulate their structural and functional properties. Among these, polyglutamylation-a dominant and conserved modification targeting unstructured tubulin C-terminal tails-plays a pivotal role in defining the tubulin code. Here, we describe a mechanism by which tubulin tyrosine ligase-like 11 (TTLL11) expands and diversifies the code. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed a unique bipartite MT recognition strategy wherein TTLL11 binding and catalytic domains engage adjacent MT protofilaments. Biochemical and cellular assays identified previously uncharacterized polyglutamylation patterns, showing that TTLL11 directly extends the primary polypeptide chains of α- and β-tubulin in vitro, challenging the prevailing paradigms emphasizing lateral branching. Moreover, cell-based and in vivo data suggest a cross-talk between polyglutamylation and the detyrosination/tyrosination cycle likely linked to the TTLL11-mediated elongation of the primary α-tubulin chain. These findings unveil an unrecognized layer of complexity within the tubulin code and offer mechanistic insights into the molecular basis of functional specialization of MT cytoskeleton.

• MeSH
• Cryoelectron Microscopy MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microtubules metabolism   MeSH
• Models, Molecular MeSH
• Peptide Synthases * metabolism   chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Protein Processing, Post-Translational MeSH
• Tubulin * metabolism   chemistry   MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Peptide Synthases * MeSH
• tubulin polyglutamylase MeSH Browser
• Tubulin * MeSH