Microtubule architecture specified by a beta-tubulin isoform.
In Drosophila melanogaster, a testis-specific beta-tubulin (beta2) is required for spermatogenesis. A sequence motif was identified in carboxyl termini of axonemal beta-tubulins in diverse taxa. As a test of whether orthologous beta-tubulins from different species are functionally equivalent, the moth Heliothis virescens beta2 homolog was expressed in Drosophila testes. When coexpressed with beta2, the moth isoform imposed the 16-protofilament structure characteristic of that found in the moth on the corresponding subset of Drosophila microtubules, which normally contain only 13-protofilament microtubules. Thus, the architecture of the microtubule cytoskeleton can be directed by a component beta-tubulin.
Raff
E C
EC
Department of Biology and Indiana Molecular Biology Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. eraff@bio.indiana.edu
Fackenthal
J D
JD
Hutchens
J A
JA
Hoyle
H D
HD
Turner
F R
FR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics; D013087:Spermatids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D014404:Tubulin