Tubulin Gene Expression in Plant Systems

Plant tubulins, comprising α-, β- and γ-subfamilies, assemble into microtubules that underlie cell division, expansion and cell wall deposition. The multiplicity of α- and β-tubulin genes across angiosperms reflects both whole-genome and tandem duplication events, yielding isotype repertoires tailored to tissue-specific demands. Spatial and temporal regulation of tubulin transcripts coordinates the dynamics of cortical microtubule arrays during polarity establishment, xylem differentiation and pollen tube elongation. Transcriptional control predominates, although subtle discrepancies between mRNA and protein levels suggest translational fine-tuning. Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses have clarified orthologous relationships among tubulin genes across species, facilitating functional inference. Insights into tubulin gene expression advance our understanding of key processes such as secondary cell wall biosynthesis, stress adaptation and reproductive development. These findings hold promise for crop improvement strategies targeting stem strength, biofuel feedstocks and fertility traits, underscoring the global significance of tubulin gene networks in plant growth and resilience.

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Tubulin Gene Expression in Plant Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in tubulin gene expression in plant systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Microtubule: A filamentous structure composed of polymerised tubulin heterodimers, forming part of the cytoskeleton and central to cell shape and intracellular transport.

Tubulin heterodimer: The fundamental building block of microtubules, formed by one α-tubulin and one β-tubulin monomer bound together.

Isotype: A variant of tubulin (α, β or γ) encoded by distinct genes, differing in amino acid sequence and potentially in cellular function.

Gene orthology: Relationship between genes in different species that derive from a common ancestral gene and often retain similar functions.

Homeolog: A gene copy derived from whole-genome duplication events, present within the same organism and related by speciation.

References

1. Genome-wide identification and evolution of the tubulin gene family in Camelina sativa. BMC Genomics (2024).
2. Differential Expansion and Expression of α- and β-Tubulin Gene Families in Populus. Plant Physiology (2007).
3. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of TUA and TUB Genes in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during Its Development. Plants (2022).