alpha-Tubulin limits its own synthesis: evidence for a mechanism involving translational repression.

• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.135.6.1525
• Publication Date: 2004-05-15T01:23:47Z
• Authors: M L Gonzalez-Garay; F Cabral
• Keywords: Alpha (finance)

A Chinese hamster alpha-tubulin cDNA was modified to encode an 11-amino acid carboxyl-terminal extension containing the immunodominant epitope from influenza hemagglutinin antigen (to create HA alpha 1-tubulin) and cloned into a vector for expression in mammalian cells. 12 stable CHO cell lines expressing this 1-tubulin were isolated characterized. incorporated all classes of microtubules, assembled same extent as endogenous tubulin, did not perturb growth cells which it expressed. However, overexpression strongly repressed synthesis while having little or no effect on beta-tubulin. Treatment transfected with sodium butyrate induce even greater led further decrease that fully reversible upon removal inducer. Decreased result decreased levels mRNA, demonstrated by ribonuclease protection assays. On other hand, colchicine, drug previously shown destabilize tubulin message, caused clear reduction both protein mRNA alpha-tubulin, thus indicating observed is distinct described autoregulation tubulin. The results are consistent mechanism free inhibits translation its own message way ensuring stoichiometric alpha-