Linked Life Data

9885292

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/9885292

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-4-13
pubmed:abstractText
mec-12 is one of a dozen genes required for touch receptor neuron function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Some mec-12 mutants (mechanosensory-defective) lack the large-diameter microtubules that are characteristic of these neurons (15 protofilaments, as opposed to 11). Mutants of mec-7, a alpha-tubulin encoding gene, have a similar phenotype. We have identified the nature of mec-12 by germline transformation rescue and characterization of a point mutation. Sequence analysis of the mec-12 encoded product (MEC-12) indicates that it corresponds to a novel C. elegans alpha-tubulin. MEC-12 is the only identified C. elegans alpha-tubulin that contains a lysine at position 40, a known site of post-translational acetylation. Some mec-12 mutations eliminate microtubule acetylation as assayed immunocyto-chemically; phenotypic rescue using a MEC-12 variant lacking the lysine-40 showed that acetylation is not required for MEC-12 activity. Although functionally needed only in the touch neurons, mec-12 is expressed in several other neuron types. These results support the notion that tubulin isotype diversity contributes to the formation of distinct classes of microtubules; 15-protofilament microtubule assembly requires MEC-12 alpha-tubulin and MEC-7 beta-tubulin, which are both highly expressed in the touch receptor neurons. MEC-12 is the first reported alpha-tubulin isotype that appears to be required in a single class of neuronal microtubules.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0021-9533
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
112 ( Pt 3)
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
395-403
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
MEC-12, an alpha-tubulin required for touch sensitivity in C. elegans.
pubmed:affiliation
Toyohashi University of Technology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441 Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't