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- *****************************************************
- * Tubulin subunits alpha, beta, and gamma signature *
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-
- Tubulins [1,2], the major constituent of microtubules are dimeric proteins
- which consist of two closely related subunits (alpha and beta). Tubulin binds
- two molecules of GTP at two different sites (N and E). At the E (Exchangeable)
- site, GTP is hydrolyzed during incorporation into the microtubule. Near the E
- site is an invariant region rich in glycines which is found in both chains and
- which is now [3] said to control the access of the nucleotide to its binding
- site. We developed a signature pattern from this region.
-
- With the exception of the simple eukaryotes, most species express a variety of
- closely related alpha and beta isotypes.
-
- In most species there is a third member of the tubulin family: gamma tubulin.
- Gamma tubulin is found at microtubule organizing centers (MTOC) such as the
- spindle poles or the centrosome, suggesting that it is involved in the minus-
- end nucleation of microtubule assembly [4].
-
- -Consensus pattern: [SAG]-G-G-T-G-[SA]-G
- -Sequences known to belong to this class detected by the pattern: ALL, except
- for maize tubulin beta-2 which has Leu in the first position of the pattern.
- -Other sequence(s) detected in SWISS-PROT: human cbl oncogene.
-
- -Note: the first residue in the pattern is Gly in all alpha and beta tubulins,
- and is Ala or Ser in gamma-tubulin.
-
- -Last update: June 1994 / Pattern and text revised.
-
- [ 1] Cleveland D.W., Sullivan K.F.
- Annu. Rev. Biochem. 54:331-365(1985).
- [ 2] Joshi H.C., Cleveland D.W.
- Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 16:159-163(1990).
- [ 3] Hesse J., Thierauf M., Ponstingl H.
- J. Biol. Chem. 262:15472-15475(1987).
- [ 4] Joshi H.C.
- BioEssays 15:637-643(1993).
-