title: Analysis of alpha- and beta-tubulin genes of Bombyx mori using an EST database.
abstract: Tubulin is one of the most widespread classes of multiprotein families and is well known to construct microtubules with two different subunits, alpha- and beta-tubulin. In the course of genome analysis of Bombyx mori, we have constructed an EST database by large-scale sequencing of clones that were randomly selected from cDNA libraries of various tissues and organs belonging to different developmental stages. Using this EST database, we have identified four types of beta-tubulin gene and three types of alpha-tubulin gene. Based on the analysis of deduced amino acid sequences, we have determined the phylogenetic relationships of tubulins between Bombyx and Drosophila melanogaster as well as two other moth species, suggesting that each tubulin is classified into at least three distinct subfamilies: a ubiquitously expressed one, a developmentally regulated one and a testis specific one.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine, Utsunomiya, 321-8505, Tochigi, Japan. k_sugaya@nirs.go.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Kimihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: Guo Xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nohata
authors.forename: Kazuei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mita
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D014404:Tubulin