TUBE1, also known as epsilon tubulin, is a crucial determinant for the integrity of microtubule-based structures. Microtubules are essential components in eukaryotic cells, and TUBE1's function is associated with multiple complex microtubule arrays. It plays a significant role in pathways related to cell division, cell structure maintenance, and cell-to-cell interactions, thus being of great biological importance. Genetic models, especially mouse models, are valuable for studying TUBE1's functions [1].

In a spermatogenesis mouse model, TUBE1 was found to be essential for the function of meiotic spindle, axoneme, and manchette. Its absence led to a dramatic loss of germ cells and male sterility, indicating its key role in male germ cell development [1]. Additionally, impairment of TUBE1, which disturbs the integrity of centriole microtubules, prevents centriole-to-centrosome conversion, suggesting its importance in centrosome duplication [2]. In bladder exstrophy patients, two children had loss-of-function variants in TUBE1, implicating its disruption in cell migration processes related to this defect [3]. In pediatric neuroblastoma, TUBE1 was identified as one of the five prognostic ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes, which could be used to construct a prognostic signature [4].

In conclusion, TUBE1 is essential for the formation and function of microtubule-based structures in various biological processes such as spermatogenesis, centrosome duplication, and cell migration. The gene knockout or conditional knockout mouse models have significantly contributed to understanding its role in male sterility and diseases like bladder exstrophy and pediatric neuroblastoma, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.