A cDNA clone, CanTUB, encoding a putative tubulin
protein was isolated from a cDNA library constructed
from 5day
old chickpea (Cicer arietinum) epicotyls. Analysis of its deduced amino acid sequence showed all the
typical structural motifs of plant tubulins.
Putative sequences for autoregulation and tubulin mRNAstability, GTP
and Ca2+/MAPs (microtubuleassociated
proteins) binding sites were present. Southern blot analysis of chickpea
genomic DNA revealed that there are multiple tubulin
genes. The level of expression of tubulin
genes was
correlated with the rate of growth in either seedlings and adult plants. The transcript levels of tubulin
genes were
higher in actively elongating tissues such as etiolated epicotyls, roots and stem tissues of adult plants. Brassinolideinduced
growth in chickpea epicotyls was accompanied by promotion of the expression of the gene coding for
tubulin.
