Computational perspectives on tubulin E-hook structure and mechanisms

E-hooks, or the C-terminal tails of tubulin, mediate interactions between microtubules and associated proteins. Despite their functional importance in cellular and physiological processes, their structural variability and mechanistic roles remain poorly understood. E-hooks are thought to be intrinsically disordered to some degree, making crystallographic studies difficult and necessitating the use of computational tools to study their structures and how they change E-hook function. This review synthesizes recent computational efforts to elucidate E-hook structure, dynamics, and functional differentiation across tubulin isotypes. We examine studies probing E-hooks in isolation or with globular cores, which have revealed subunit-specific features influencing microtubule behavior. We also evaluate the role of E-hooks in modulating binding affinity and conformational states of motor proteins and microtubule-associated proteins. Finally, we highlight adjacent technological and methodological advances that have implications for both the interpretation of past findings and the design of future studies, offering new directions for the investigation of E-hook-mediated microtubule regulation.