Tubacin is a tubulin acetylation inducer that selectively inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC) 6 (IC50 = 4 nM). In comparison, it demonstrates at least 300-fold selectivity against all other HDAC isoforms (IC50s range from 1.3-17.3 μM). Tubacin induces α-tubulin hyperacetylation at 2.5 μM in primary cortical neuron cultures. Tubacin inhibition of HDAC6 has been used as a biochemical tool to control microtubule-dependent intracellular trafficking, to manipulate the aggresome formation of misfolded proteins in certain diseases, and to study the dynamics of cellular adhesion.
