Abstract.
The data reported here shows that α-tubulin, the subunit of microtubulin in the cytoskeleton, is regulated by sugars. A 48-h sugar-depletion treatment in BMS maize cell suspension culture medium led to a marked reduction in the levels of α-tubulin mRNA and protein. This response was reversible; the addition of metabolizable sugars led to a rapid increase in the levels of the α-tubulin transcript. Levels of α-tubulin protein also increased, albeit gradually. Surprisingly, there was little or no effect of phosphate depletion and phosphate addition on α-tubulin expression. Furthermore, the data show that sugars modulate a co-regulation of α-tubulin and cell-wall invertase. We propose that microtubules might be a major component of a sugar-signaling pathway that is regulated by, among other factors, cellular carbon metabolism.
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Revision received: 13 November 2000
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Datta, R., Chourey, P. Sugar-regulated control of α-tubulin in maize cell suspension culture. Plant Cell Reports 20, 262–266 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990000310
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990000310