Towards a systems-level view of the microtubule cytoskeleton and its functions in physiology and disease

Microtubules are well-researched components of the cytoskeleton, yet we lack a holistic understanding that bridges molecular and cellular details with the broader functions of the microtubule cytoskeleton in development, ageing and disease. For example, how microtubule properties and functions are affected by tubulin post-translational modifications, disease-related mutations or variation of the microtubule lattice remains unexplored. In this Roadmap, we argue that integrating various experimental and theoretical approaches to bridge different spatial and temporal scales will offer new opportunities for gaining insights into essential cellular mechanisms and physiology, eventually revealing how microtubule dysfunction can lead to a broad spectrum of human diseases. Built on the current state of the art in the microtubule field, our Roadmap highlights future opportunities and challenges and proposes ways to tackle them. Given the many fundamental questions remaining to be answered, the microtubule cytoskeleton will continue to inspire scientists as it has been doing for decades.