Skip to main content
Log in

Isoforms of soluble α-tubulin in oocytes and brain of the frog (genus Rana): changes during oocyte maturation

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences CMLS Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Rana oocytes have previously been shown to contain much more soluble tubulin than does the brain, suggesting different assembly and disassembly dynamics of frog oocyte tubulin compared to that in brain. By using centrifugation, SDS-PAGE, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blots, probed with anti-α-tubulin monoclonal antibodies, polymorphic α-tubulins (isoforms) were compared in brains and follicle-enclosed oocytes of northern (Rana pipiens) and southern (R. berlandieri) frogs. Oocyte tubulin in both species had isoforms with greater ranges of isoelectric point (pI) than those of brain tubulins; in particular, the oocyte tubulin pIs ranged further into the acidic region of the isoelectric-focusing gels than corresponding brain tubulin. This difference may, in part, be responsible for the previously reported assembly differences between oocyte tubulin (undetectable assembly) and brain tubulin (high assembly). Isoforms of α-tubulin with relat ively acidic pI were more abundant in northern frog brain and oocyte soluble extracts than in analogous extracts from southern frogs. Furthermore, additional acidic α-tubulin isoforms were found in progesterone-treated oocytes (i.e., eggs), indicating increased heterogeneity of acidic a-tubulin isoforms during oocyte meiotic maturation. Among northern frog oocyte soluble components fractionated on Superose-6b columns, tubulin complexes with apparent molecular mass of about 1800 kDa were found to contain acidic α-tubulin isoforms while the putative oligomeric tubulins with an apparent molecular mass of about 250 kDa contained an additional relatively basic α-tubulin isoform. The acidic α-tubulin isoforms, therefore, are proposed to be associated with cold-adaptable cells of brain and oocytes, and may also be involved in stabilization of large soluble tubulin complexes in oocytes of the northern frog.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received 1 October 2002; accepted 9 October 2002

RID="*"

ID="*"Corresponding author.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, T., Lessman, C. Isoforms of soluble α-tubulin in oocytes and brain of the frog (genus Rana): changes during oocyte maturation. CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 59, 2216–2223 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000180200021

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s000180200021

Navigation