title: Spatio-temporal dynamics of β-tubulin isotypes during the development of the sensory auditory organ in rat.
abstract: There are different β-tubulin isoforms in microtubules of vertebrate tissues. However, their functional significance is still largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the localization of five β-tubulin isotypes (β1-5) within the hearing organ during development in rat. By using confocal microscopy, we showed that with the exception of the β3-tubulin isoform that was specific to nerve fibres, all the different β-tubulin isoforms were mainly present in the supporting cells. Contrary to β1-4-tubulins, we also found that the β5-tubulin isoform appeared only at a key stage of the post-natal development in specific cell types (pillar cells and Deiters' cells). By using transmission electron microscopy, we revealed further that this developmental stage coincided with the formation of two separate bundles of microtubules from a unique one in these supporting cells. Together, these results suggest that the β5-tubulin isoform might be involved in the generation of new microtubule bundles from a pre-existing one.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cell and Tissue Biology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, CHU Sart-Tilman, B36, 4000, Liege, Belgium. justine.renauld@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Renauld
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cell and Tissue Biology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, CHU Sart-Tilman, B36, 4000, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnen
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cell and Tissue Biology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, CHU Sart-Tilman, B36, 4000, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thelen
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cell and Tissue Biology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, CHU Sart-Tilman, B36, 4000, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cloes
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cell and Tissue Biology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, CHU Sart-Tilman, B36, 4000, Liege, Belgium. mthiry@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thiry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014404:Tubulin
keywords: Confocal microscopy; Development; Microtubules; Transmission electron microscopy