ISSN:
1399-3054
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Maize (Zea mays L. cv. Pioneer 3925) endosperm development is sensitive to water deficit during rapid cell division and nuclear DNA endoreduplication. To gain insight into effects of water deficit on gene-products that are involved in these processes, we examined the accumulation of β-tubulin, a 50-kDa subunit of microtubules. Proteins extracted from endosperms were separated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with antibodies to β-tubulin. In addition to the expected 50-kDa β-tubulin protein, monoclonal antibodies recognized a 35-kDa protein that predominated at early stages of development and progressively disappeared coincident with the appearance of 50-kDa β-tubulin. Various tests demonstrated that the cross-reacting 35-kDa protein was not a post-harvest artifact, but represented a group of in situ tubulin isotypes preferentially detected by the monoclonal antibodies we used. The pattern of appearance of the fragment suggested that differential expression or degradation of tubulin isotypes normally occurs during development. This expression pattern is prologed or altered during water deficit, which may affect cell division.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1995.tb00797.x
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