Biomaterial Database

Cloning and analysis of beta-tubulin gene from a protoctist. 1990

L E Cameron, and J A Hutsul, and L Thorlacius, and H B LéJohn

Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

We have isolated and characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping, transcription pattern, and DNA sequencing a beta-tubulin gene from the coenocytic freshwater protoctist, Achlya klebsiana. The gene is intronless and has a single open reading frame that encodes a 444-amino acid residue polypeptide of Mr 49,856. The protein shows a high degree of homology to other beta-tubulins, 85% identity to human beta-tubulin and 89% identity to beta-tubulin of the sporozoan (also a protoctist) Plasmodium falciparum. Fungal beta-tubulins are among the least identical to A. klebsiana beta-tubulin. Through Southern blot hybridization analysis, we determined that there is just one form of beta-tubulin gene in A. klebsiana. Transcription of the gene was studied during sporogenesis. Following induction of sporogenesis, the level of the mRNA increased markedly at 2 h and declined in the next 2 h when mitosis, cytokinesis, and spore development occurred. At the same time, beta-tubulin content increased about 6-fold in the cells. Sporulation in A. klebsiana is not inhibited by antimitotic drugs such as benomyl, colcemid, and colchicine. Benomyl resistance in Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus nidulans has been genetically and molecularly linked to single amino acid substitutions at positions 167 and 165, respectively. The change from phenylalanine to tyrosine conferring benomyl resistance to N. crassa is seen in A. klebsiana, but the valine substitution for alanine in A. nidulans is marked by cysteine replacement in A. klebsiana. The amino acid found at position 165 is not conserved in various beta-tubulins, but phenylalanine at position 167 is extremely conserved.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D003001	Cloning, Molecular	The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells.	Molecular Cloning
D003062	Codon	A set of three nucleotides in a protein coding sequence that specifies individual amino acids or a termination signal (CODON, TERMINATOR). Most codons are universal, but some organisms do not produce the transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER) complementary to all codons. These codons are referred to as unassigned codons (CODONS, NONSENSE).	Codon, Sense,Sense Codon,Codons,Codons, Sense,Sense Codons
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D005796	Genes	A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms.	Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D012689	Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid	The sequential correspondence of nucleotides in one nucleic acid molecule with those of another nucleic acid molecule. Sequence homology is an indication of the genetic relatedness of different organisms and gene function.	Base Sequence Homology,Homologous Sequences, Nucleic Acid,Homologs, Nucleic Acid Sequence,Homology, Base Sequence,Homology, Nucleic Acid Sequence,Nucleic Acid Sequence Homologs,Nucleic Acid Sequence Homology,Sequence Homology, Base,Base Sequence Homologies,Homologies, Base Sequence,Sequence Homologies, Base