Alpha-tubulin(b-alpha-1) mRNA is expressed only in brain with a molecular weight of about 55,000. The 3-prime UTR of b-alpha-1 is more than 80% homologous to the UTR of the rat brain alpha-tubulin gene, IL-alpha-T1. B-alpha-1 encodes a predicted 451-amino acid protein that is 100% identical to the rat homolog and differs by only 2 and 3 amino acids from the pig and chicken homologs, respectively.