Molecular cloning and expression studies of two divergent alpha-tubulin genes in Neurospora crassa.
Three alpha-tubulin isoforms were previously detected in Neurospora crassa. We have cloned and analysed two alpha-tubulin cDNAs, Tub alpha A and Tub alpha B that encode polypeptides of 453 and 451 amino acids, respectively. The encoded amino acids exhibit an unusual divergence of 35%. This is the highest divergence ever observed between alpha-tubulins from the same species. The expression of the two genes is developmentally regulated. We did not detect any transcription of the Tub alpha A gene in dormant macroconidia and during the first 30 min of development even though the alpha-tub A protein is already present in the early stage of germination. In contrast, the Tub alpha B gene is continuously transcribed during the vegetative cycle and the expression profile of the protein follows the ones of its mRNA.
Monnat
J
J
Laboratory of General Microbiology, Sciences III, University of Geneva, Switzerland. jmonnat@mzf.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de
Ortega Perez
R
R
Turian
G
G
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000502:physiology; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014404:Tubulin