Microtubules are required for many well characterized functions in eukaryotic cells, including the movement of chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis, intracellular transport, establishment and maintenance of cellular morphology, cell growth, cell migration and morphogenesis in multicellular organisms. The building block of a microtubule is the tubulin subunit, a heterodimer of alpha and beta-tubulin. Both of these monomers are found in all eukaryotes, and their sequences are highly conserved. Acetylated alpha tubulin is present in various microtubule structures and plays a role in stabilizing the structures of all microtubules.

Cytoplasmic