Isolation and characterization of a beta-tubulin gene from Candida albicans

Gene. 1988;63(1):53-63. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(88)90545-8.

Abstract

We report the isolation and nucleotide sequence determination of a beta-tubulin gene (TUB2) from the pathogenic dimorphic fungus Candida albicans. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that TUB2 encodes a protein of 449 amino acids (aa) with considerable sequence homology to beta-tubulins isolated from other fungal species. The nucleotide sequence of the C. albicans gene is 70% homologous to that of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene. The coding region for the C. albicans beta-tubulin gene is interrupted by two introns. The first intron occurs after the 4th aa and the second intron occurs after the 13th aa. A comparison with other fungal beta-tubulin genes indicates that the intron locations are highly conserved. Codon usage in the C. albicans TUB2 gene is nonrandom, as has been observed for other fungal beta-tubulin genes. The C. albicans TUB2 gene is transcribed to yield a 1.8-kb mRNA species. On the basis of genomic Southern-blot analysis, we conclude that C. albicans most likely possesses a single beta-tubulin gene.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Candida albicans / genetics*
  • Codon
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Genes
  • Genes, Fungal*
  • Introns
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Tubulin / genetics*

Substances

  • Codon
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Tubulin

Associated data

  • GENBANK/M19398