Reversal of the posttranslational modification on Chlamydomonas flagellar α-tubulin occurs during flagellar resorption

Abstract

We previously have shown that a posttranslational modification of α-tubulin takes place in the flagellum during Chlamydomonas flagellar assembly (L’Hernault, S. W., and J. L. Rosenbaum, 1983, J. Cell Biol., 97: 258-263). In this report, we show that the posttranslationally modified α-3 tubulin is changed back to its unmodified α-1 precursor form during the microtubular disassembly that takes place during flagellar resorption. These data indicate that the addition and removal of a posttranslational modification on α-tubulin might be a control step in the assembly and disassembly of flagella. © 1985, Rockefeller University Press., All rights reserved.