The role of the elimination of ring B and/or the modification of ring C of colchicine in tubulin binding kinetics and thermodynamics has been characterized, using four different molecules. These ligands are colchicine (COL); 2-methoxy-5-(2',3',4'-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-on e (MTC), in which the central ring B has been reduced to one bond; allocolchicine (ALLO), in which ring C...

beta-Tubulin is encoded in the genomes of higher animals by a small multigene family comprising approximately seven functional genes. These genes produce a family of closely related, but distinct polypeptide isotypes that are distinguished principally by sequences within the approximately 15 carboxy-terminal amino acid residues. By immunizing rabbits with chemically synthesized peptides corresp...

Tubulin, the major constituent protein of microtubules, is a heterodimer of alpha and beta subunits. Both alpha and beta exist in multiple isotypic forms. It is not clear if different isotypes perform different functions. In order to approach this question, we have made a monoclonal antibody specific for the beta III isotype of tubulin. This particular isotype is neuron-specific and appears to ...

The isotype distribution of Dextran B 512 (Dex)-specific plaque-forming cells (PFC) and serum antibodies was studied after in vivo immunization in C57BL/6 mice. Although IgG2b and IgG3 could also be detected in most individuals, the majority of non-IgM PFC were of the IgA isotype. All classes other than IgM were T cell-dependent, as shown by their complete absence in athymic "nude" mice. This u...

Microtubules (MTs) are polymers composed of α- and β-tubulin heterodimers that are generally encoded by genes at multiple loci. Despite implications of distinct properties depending on the isotype, how these heterodimers contribute to the diverse MT dynamics in vivo remains unclear. Here, by using genome editing and depletion of tubulin isotypes following RNAi, we demonstrate that four tubulin ...

BACKGROUND Activation of T cells induces immunoglobulin (Ig)M-to-IgG B-cell isotype switching via costimulatory regulatory pathways. Because rejection of transplanted organs is preceded by alloantigen-dependent T-cell activation, we investigated whether B-cell isotype switching could predict acute cellular rejection and the subsequent development of transplantation-related coronary artery disea...

We describe five mouse tubulin cloned cDNAs, two (M alpha 1 and M alpha 2) that encode alpha-tubulin and three (M beta 2, M beta 4, and M beta 5) that encode beta-tubulin. The sequence of these clones reveals that each represents a distinct gene product. Within the sequence common to the two alpha-tubulin cDNAs, the encoded amino acids are identical, though the 3' noncoding regions are wholly d...

Affinity for DNA and cross-reactivity with renal antigens are associated with enhanced renal pathogenicity of lupus autoantibodies. In addition, certain IgG subclasses are enriched in nephritic kidneys, suggesting that isotype may determine the outcome of antibody binding to renal antigens. To investigate if the isotype of DNA antibodies affects renal pathogenicity by influencing antigen bindin...

Immunoglobulin heavy chain genes in Raja erinacea (little skate) are organized in clusters consisting of VH, DH, JH segments and CH exons (1). An immunoglobulin heavy chain mu-like isotype that exhibits 61-91% nucleotide sequence identity in coding segments to the Heterodontus francisci (horned shark) mu-type immunoglobulin is described. The overall length of the mu-type clusters is approximate...

Control of helminth infections is a major task in livestock production to prevent health constraints and economic losses. However, resistance to established anthelmintic substances already impedes effective anthelmintic treatment in many regions worldwide. Thus, there is an obvious need for sensitive and reliable methods to assess the resistance status of at least the most important nematode po...