title: Cloning characterization and expression of the cDNA encoding a neuron-specific alpha-tubulin isoform highly represented in the electric lobe of Torpedo marmorata.
abstract: A cDNA (alpha T6) encoding an alpha-tubulin from Torpedo marmorata (Tm) was isolated and sequenced. The deduced 451-amino-acid (aa) sequence codes for an alpha-tubulin of 50,161 Da. The aa sequence of alpha T6 of Tm showed a 70-99.6% identity to the other alpha-tubulins previously described. Moreover, the alpha T6 aa sequence was 95-99.6% identical to neural-specific tubulins of mouse, rat, human and siberian salmon. The corresponding mRNA is highly represented in the giant motoneurons of the electric lobe. All neuronal populations of the Tm brain exhibit variable levels of alpha T6 expression, with the highest levels in the long-axon-projecting neurons. These results suggest that this alpha-tubulin isoform may play an important role in the maintenance and/or remodeling of the neuronal cytoskeleton.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Cellular i Anatomia Patològica, Facultat de Medicina, Hospital de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Canals
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Avila
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aguado
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Majó
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marsal
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000294:innervation; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014101:Torpedo / Q000235:genetics*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D014404:Tubulin