The small genome of Arabidopsis contains at least six expressed alpha-tubulin genes.
The goal of our investigations is to define the genetic control of microtubule-based processes in a higher plant. The available evidence suggests that we have achieved our first objective: the characterization of the complete alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin gene families of Arabidopsis. Four additional alpha-tubulin genes (TUA2, TUA4, TUA5, and TUA6) of Arabidopsis have been cloned and sequenced to complete the analysis of the gene structure for all six alpha-tubulin genes detectable on DNA gel blots of Arabidopsis genomic DNA hybridized with alpha-tubulin coding sequences. TUA1 and TUA3 were characterized earlier in our laboratory. Noncoding gene-specific hybridization probes have been constructed for all six alpha-tubulin genes and used in RNA gel blot analyses to demonstrate that all six genes are transcribed. The six genes encode four different alpha-tubulin isoforms; TUA2 and TUA4 encode a single isoform, as do TUA3 and TUA5. Two-dimensional protein gel immunoblot analyses have resolved at least four alpha-tubulin isoforms from plant tissues, suggesting that all of the predicted TUA gene products are synthesized in vivo.
Kopczak
S D
SD
Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108-1095.
Haas
N A
NA
Hussey
P J
PJ
Silflow
C D
CD
Snustad
D P
DP
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D016678:Genome; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D011058:Pollen / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
D014404:Tubulin