The Mec-7 Beta-tubulin Gene of Caenorhabditis Elegans is Expressed Primarily in the Touch Receptor Neurons

Overview

Journal EMBO J

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 1992 Aug 1

PMID 1639062

Citations 52

Authors

M Hamelin

I M Scott

J C Way

J G Culotti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Mutants of the mec-7 beta-tubulin gene of Caenorhabditis elegans lack the large diameter 15-protofilament microtubules normally found only in the set of six touch receptor neurons. Both a mec-7-lacZ reporter gene and affinity-purified anti-mec-7 antibodies were used to show that mec-7 is expressed primarily in the touch neurons. These data are consistent with a possible instructive role for the mec-7 tubulin in determining microtubule protofilament number. The antibodies and the mec-7-lacZ transgene were also used to examine mec-7 expression in mutants affecting the generation, differentiation or maintenance of the touch neurons. Decreased expression was observed in mutants of unc-86 and mec-3, genes that encode transcription factors essential for touch receptor neuron generation and differentiation, respectively.

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