Tubulin Acetylation Enhances Microtubule Stability in Trabecular Meshwork Cells Under Mechanical Stress.

Purpose: To study the roles of tubulin acetylation and cyclic mechanical stretch (CMS) in trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and their impact on outflow pathway physiology and pathology.

Methods: Primary TM cell cultures were subjected to CMS (8% elongation, 24 hours), and acetylated α-tubulin at lysine 40 (Ac-TUBA4) was assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Enzymes regulating tubulin acetylation were identified via siRNA-mediated knockdowns of ATAT1, HDAC6, and SIRT2.