A revised nomenclature for the human and rodent α-tubulin gene family

• Published in: Genomics (San Diego, Calif.) Vol. 90; no. 2; pp. 285 - 289
• Main Authors: Khodiyar, Varsha K., Maltais, Lois J., Sneddon, Katherine M.B., Smith, Jennifer R., Shimoyama, Mary, Cabral, Fernando, Dumontet, Charles, Dutcher, Susan K., Harvey, Robert J., Lafanechère, Laurence, Murray, John M., Nogales, Eva, Piquemal, David, Stanchi, Fabio, Povey, Sue, Lovering, Ruth C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.08.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biological and medical sciences; Cellular Biology; DNA, Complementary - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes. Genome; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genomics; Humans; Life Sciences; Mice - genetics; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Multigene Family; Phylogeny; Rats - genetics; Terminology as Topic; Tubulin - genetics; Human; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Tubulin; Genomics; Nomenclature; Rodentia; Multigene family
• ISSN: 0888-7543; 1089-8646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.04.008

An essential component of microtubules, α-tubulin is also a multigene family in many species. An orthology-based nomenclature for this gene family has previously been difficult to assign due to incomplete genome builds and the high degree of sequence similarity between members of this family. Using the current genome builds, sequence analysis of human, mouse, and rat α-tubulin genes has enabled an updated nomenclature to be generated. This revised nomenclature provides a unified language for the discussion of these genes in mammalian species; it has been approved by the gene nomenclature committees of the three species and is supported by researchers in the field.