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The mec‐7 beta‐tubulin gene of Caenorhabditis elegans is expressed primarily in the touch receptor neurons.
Author(s) -
Hamelin M.,
Scott I.M.,
Way J.C.,
Culotti J.G.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05357.x
Subject(s) - mount , caenorhabditis elegans , library science , biology , neuroscience , gene , genetics , computer science , operating system
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.