Role of delta-tubulin and the C-tubule in assembly of Paramecium basal bodies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A breakthrough in the understanding of centriole assembly was provided by the characterization of the UNI3 gene in Chlamydomonas. Deletion of this gene, found to encode a novel member of the tubulin superfamily, delta-tubulin, results in the loss of the C-tubule, in the nine microtubule triplets which are the hallmark of centrioles and basal bodies. Delta-tubulin homologs have been identified in the genomes of mammals and protozoa, but their phylogenetic relationships are unclear and their function is not yet known.

Results

Using the method of gene-specific silencing, we have inactivated the Paramecium delta-tubulin gene, which was recently identified. This inactivation leads to loss of the C-tubule in all basal bodies, without any effect on ciliogenesis. This def

SUBMITTER: Garreau de Loubresse N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC29069 | biostudies-literature | 2001

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature