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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Christophe Noel
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We have isolated and analysed an alpha-tubulin-encoding gene (atub1) in an early-diverging eukaryote, Trichomonas vaginalis. The complete atub1 open reading frame included 1.356 bp encoding a polypeptide of 452 amino-acyl residues. A second alpha-tubulin gene (atub2) was amplified by PCR using primers derived from consensus alpha-tubulin amino acid sequences. Both T. vaginalis alpha-tubulin sequences showed high identity to those described in other parabasalids (94.4%-97.3%), and exhibited a high degree of similarity to sequences from Metazoa (such as pig brain) and diplomonads (such as Giardia). Despite large evolutionary distances previously observed between trichomonads and mammals, the three-dimensional model of the T. vaginalis tubulin dimer was very similar to that of pig brain. Possible correlations between alpha-tubulin sequences and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) were examined. Our observations corroborated previous data obtained in T. vaginalis using specific anti-PTMs antibodies. As described in the related species Tritrichomonas mobilensis, microtubules are likely acetylated, non-tyrosinated, glutamylated, and non-glycylated in T. vaginalis. Evolutionary considerations concerning the time of appearance of these tubulin PTMs are also discussed since trichomonads are potentially one of the earliest diverging eukaryotic lineages.
Author(s): Noel C; Gerbod D; Fast NM; Wintjens R; Delgado-Viscogliosi P; Doolittle WF; Viscogliosi E
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
Year: 2001
Volume: 48
Issue: 6
Pages: 647-654
ISSN (print): 1066-5234
ISSN (electronic): 1550-7408
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2001.tb00204.x
DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2001.tb00204.x
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