Bioinformatics search of the tubuline genes in Linum genome

Abstract

Aims. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is the most important industrial crop that covers human needs in the cellulose-rich fibers of high quality. Molecular mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis are still poorly understood, but a basic component consisting of 36-polypeptides is already known. It is cellulose synthase complex associated with cytoskeleton elements. Obviously, both physical and chemical properties of cellulose biopolymer as well the characteristics of newly-formed fiber depend on the genes expression during the cell wall biogenesis. Methods. Using Arabidopsis tubulin genes we have performed the similarity search of genes via TBLASTN predicted proteins of the Linum genome available at Phytozome v9.1. Results. A total of 17 tubulin gene candidates were found in Linum genome. Using ClustalW software we have made a multiple amino acid sequence alignment of the tubulin type specific regions of these genes with the sequences of  Arabidopsis tubulin genes and obtained a phylogenetic tree for these sequences. Conclusions. We provide 17 genes of α- and β-tubulin in flax genome. Homology of amino acid sequences to sequences annotated A. thaliana genes flax able to carry up to 7 types of isoforms of α-tubulin and 10 isoforms of β-tubulin.

Key words: Linum usitatissimum, α-tubulin, β-tubulin, gene.