Tubulin Alpha 8 (TUBa8)

By searching a skeletal muscle EST database, followed by PCR screening of a muscle cDNA library, Stanchi et al. (2000) isolated a cDNA encoding TUBA8. The deduced 449-amino acid protein is 99% identical to the mouse sequence. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis detected TUBA8 expression primarily in heart, skeletal muscle, and testis, with lower expression in brain and pancreas. In mouse embryos, Abdollahi et al. (2009) found wide expression of Tuba8 in developing neural structures. Areas included the cortical preplate, cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, and cerebellum. The distribution suggested that Tuba8 has a role in neuronal migration of deep-layer neurons as well as of the cortical plate. Studies of a fusion human TUBA8 protein in cell culture indicated a role in microtubule assembly.