Structural analysis of mutations in the Drosophila beta2-tubulin isoform reveals regions in the beta-tubulin molecule required for general and for tissue-specific microtubule functions

Article Abstract:

Genetic experiments enable the identification of lesions in various mutant alleles of beta Tub85D gene encoding the testis-specific beta2-tubulin isoform in Drosophila melanogaster. Structural analysis of mutant alleles of the beta2 gene reveals the interaction of two isotype-defining domains in a three-dimensional structure in wild-type beta-tubulins. Proper axoneme assembly requires the integrity of this structure in the Drosophila testis beta2-tubulin, while the structure is not essential for general microtubule functions. Construction of axoneme morphology needs the amino acid sequence of the beta2-tubulin internal variable region.

Analysis, Mutation (Biology), Mutation, Tubulins, Tubulin

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Interspecific comparison of the transformer gene of Drosophila reveals an unusually high degree of evolutionary divergence

Article Abstract:

The transformer (tra) genes of Drosophila simulans, D. erecta, D. hydei and D. virilis were cloned and sequenced in order to identify evolutionary conserved regions within the gene. The tra gene is involved in somatic sexual differentiation. Sequence analysis showed an unusual level of tra divergence among the different Drosophila species. These rapidly evolving regions constitute most of the coding region. However, one continuous stretch of nine amino acids is conserved in the tra gene of Drosophila. This sequence may code for a cis-acting regulator of the sex-specific alternative splicing event.

Evolution (Biology), Evolution, Sex differentiation

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Inferring weak selection from patterns of polymorphism and divergence at "silent" sites in Drosophila DNA

Article Abstract:

The discrimination of natural selection among codons in Drosophila is revealed by the divergence in 'silent' DNA and the codon usage patterns. The discrimination is used for the construction of a simple model for the development of a model for the evolution of the silent DNA. The model reveals that the silent DNA evolved since mutations from unpreferred to preferred codons is favored by natural selection.

Natural selection, Codon, Codons

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