Characterization of tubulin from Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi

The tubulins of Brugia malayi and B. pahangi were similar with respect to concentration (mg tubulin per mg soluble protein), electrophoretic and isoelectric mobility, reaction in Western blots with anti-tubulin monoclonal antibodies, and isoform patterns. Tubulin was estimated to account for 2.8% and 2.9% of soluble protein in B. malayi and B. pahangi extracts, respectively. Tubulins from Brugia nematodes have been partially purified by polylysine agarose chromatography and with taxol. Western blots with alpha- and beta-tubulin monoclonal antibodies confirmed the presence of tubulin. The mobility of Brugia tubulins on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was very similar to that of N. brasiliensis and rat brain tubulins. The isoelectric range for Brugia alpha- and beta-tubulin isoforms was pH 5.4-4.7. Western blots with anti-tubulin monoclonal antibodies revealed 4-5 isoforms of alpha-tubulin and 4-5 isoforms of beta-tubulin for Brugia nematodes.