title: The beta-tubulin gene family in Zea mays: two differentially expressed beta-tubulin genes.
abstract: Maize beta-tubulins are encoded by a large multigene family with at least nine members, as determined by Southern blot analysis. Two expressed genes, represented by the beta 1 genomic clone and the beta 2 cDNA clone, were examined in this study. The two genes encode beta-tubulins which show 94% sequence identity at the amino acid level. Maize beta 1 transcript levels were highest in seedling root tip and tissue culture cells, which are both rapidly dividing tissues. No transcripts were detected in non-dividing leaf tissue. In contrast, beta 2 transcripts were present at relatively high levels in tissue culture cells and at lower levels in seedling root tip and leaf tissue. The electrophoretic mobility of the beta 2 polypeptide was examined in relation to the constellation of beta-tubulin polypeptides on two-dimensional gel western blots of a maize pollen total protein extract. No evidence for post-translational modification of the beta-tubulin polypeptides was found in pollen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunsperger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Snustad
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Silflow
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017343:Genes, Plant; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011058:Pollen; D012639:Seeds; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D004247:DNA