title: The mec-7 beta-tubulin gene of Caenorhabditis elegans is expressed primarily in the touch receptor neurons.
abstract: Mutants of the mec-7 beta-tubulin gene of Caenorhabditis elegans lack the large diameter 15-protofilament microtubules normally found only in the set of six touch receptor neurons. Both a mec-7-lacZ reporter gene and affinity-purified anti-mec-7 antibodies were used to show that mec-7 is expressed primarily in the touch neurons. These data are consistent with a possible instructive role for the mec-7 tubulin in determining microtubule protofilament number. The antibodies and the mec-7-lacZ transgene were also used to examine mec-7 expression in mutants affecting the generation, differentiation or maintenance of the touch neurons. Decreased expression was observed in mutants of unc-86 and mec-3, genes that encode transcription factors essential for touch receptor neuron generation and differentiation, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Immunology and Neurobiology, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamelin
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Way
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Culotti
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000906:Antibodies; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005796:Genes; D007814:Larva; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D010455:Peptides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D001616:beta-Galactosidase