THE TRANSCRIPTOME OF THE TUBULIN GENE FAMILY IN PLANTS

摘要

Microtubules are dynamic multi-protein structures involved in many basic cellular functions and are comprised of an ot-tubulin (TUA) and a P-tubulin (TUB) subunit. In plants, both subunits are encoded by small gene families. TUA gene family consists of four TUAs in Arabidopsis to at least thirteen TUAs in cotton, while TUB gene family number varies from eight members in barley, rice and maize to twenty in aspen. Expression of almost all tubulin genes is spatially and temporally controlled during growth, development and in response to specific signals. Vegetative plant organs and developing seeds are characterized by redundant expression of several TUA and TUB genes. Specific tubulin isoforms were described to be expressed in pollen. The present review describes the distribution and possible functional significance of the various a- and P-tubulin genes in plants based on their expression patterns in different tissues, organs as well as during distinct developmental stages and in response to different internal and external factors. Possible mechanisms of regulation of tubulin gene expression are also discussed.