Structural analysis of mutations in the Drosophila beta2-tubulin isoform reveals regions in the beta-tubulin molecule required for general and for tissue-specific microtubule functions

Genetic experiments enable the identification of lesions in various mutant alleles of beta Tub85D gene encoding the testis-specific beta2-tubulin isoform in Drosophila melanogaster. Structural analysis of mutant alleles of the beta2 gene reveals the interaction of two isotype-defining domains in a three-dimensional structure in wild-type beta-tubulins. Proper axoneme assembly requires the integrity of this structure in the Drosophila testis beta2-tubulin, while the structure is not essential for general microtubule functions. Construction of axoneme morphology needs the amino acid sequence of the beta2-tubulin internal variable region.