Background: The origin and evolution of the homologous GTP-binding cytoskeletal proteins FtsZ typical of Bacteria and tubulin characteristic of eukaryotes is a major question in molecular evolutionary biology. Both FtsZ and tubulin are central to key cell biology processes – bacterial septation and cell division in the case of FtsZ and in the case of tubulins the function of microtubules necess...

13-tubulin of budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a polypeptide of 457 amino acids encoded by the unique gene TUB2. We investigated the function of the carboxy-terminal part of yeast [I-tubulin corresponding to the carboxy-terminal variable domain of mammalian and avian fi-tubulins. The GAA codon for Glu-431 of TUB2 was altered to TAA termination codon by using in vitro site-directed muta...

γ-Tubulin was initially identified as a suppressor of an Aspergillus β-tubulin mutation (Oakley and Oakley, 1989). Highly homologous genes have since been identified in a variety of other eucaryotes (see Tables 1 and 2), and immunofluorescence studies have confirmed that γ-tubulin is expressed in a wide variety of eucaryotic cells. These observations indicate that γ-tubulin is functionally impo...

Botrytis aclada and allii, associated with onion gray-mold neck rot isolated in Hokkaido, were tested for sensitivity to benzimidazole. Of the B. strains, 59% highly resistant remaining 41% sensitive; all strains of allii sensitive. Resistant widespread Hokkaido. We analyzed sequences β-tubulin gene detected replacement glutamic acid (GAG) by lysine (AAG) at codon 198. This is first report benz...

Basal bodies and centrioles are conserved microtubule-based organelles the improper assembly of which leads to a number of diseases, including ciliopathies and cancer. Tubulin family members are conserved components of these structures that are integral to their proper formation and function. We have identified the ε-tubulin gene in Tetrahymena thermophila and detected the protein, through fluo...

Axin is known to have an important role in the degradation of beta-catenin in the Wnt pathway. Here, we reveal a new function of Axin at the centrosome. Axin was localized to the centrosome in various cell lines and formed a complex with gamma-tubulin. Knockdown of Axin reduced the localization of gamma-tubulin and gamma-tubulin complex protein 2-components of the gamma-tubulin ring complex-to ...

We analyzed the role of tubulin polyglycylation in Tetrahymena thermophila using in vivo mutagenesis and immunochemical analysis with modification-specific antibodies. Three and five polyglycylation sites were identified at glutamic acids near the COOH termini of alpha- and beta-tubulin, respectively. Mutants lacking all polyglycylation sites on alpha-tubulin have normal phenotype, whereas simi...

We amplified, cloned, and sequenced the beta-tubulin gene of Vittaforma corneae, a microsporidium causing human infections. The beta-tubulin gene sequence has a substitution at Glu(198) (with glutamine), which is one of six amino acids reported to be associated with benzimidazole sensitivity. Benzimidazoles were assayed for antimicrosporidial activity and showed poor parasite inhibition.

Previous studies have identified a conserved AG dinucleotide at the 3' splice site (3'SS) and a polypyrimidine (pPy) tract that are required for trans splicing of polycistronic pre-mRNAs in trypanosomatids. Furthermore, the pPy tract of the Trypanosoma brucei alpha-tubulin 3'SS region is required to specify accurate 3'-end formation of the upstream beta-tubulin gene and trans splicing of the do...

Progressive motor neuronopathy (pmn) mutant mice have been widely used as a model for human motoneuron disease. Mice that are homozygous for the pmn gene defect appear healthy at birth but develop progressive motoneuron disease, resulting in severe skeletal muscle weakness and respiratory failure by postnatal week 3. The disease starts at the motor endplates, and then leads to axonal loss and f...