Asian Journal of Plant Sciences1682-39741812-5697Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajps.2004.128.131MatsuiToshiyuki Pankaj Kumar Bhowmik Kyosuke Yokozeki 1200431Actin is one of the most ubiquitous and conserved eukaryotic protein. All eukaryotic cells, from yeast to plants to animals, have an internal framework called the cytoskeleton. The plant actin cytoskeleton is central to many different sub-cellular processes and actin genes have been the focus of numerous scientific studies because of their involvement in basic cellular processes. In order to explain the structure and evolution of monocot actin gene family we have cloned and sequenced a 515 bp cDNA sequence from moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) shoot. Phylogenetic analysis of the bamboo actin along with asparagus actin and those previously published in the database, indicates that monocots actin genes are highly conserved and actin multigene family underwent many gene duplication events early in the evolution of angiosperms.]]>McDowell, J.M., S.R. Huang, E.C. McKinney, Y.Q. An and R.B. Meagher,1996Arabidopsis thaliana.]]>142587602Bernatzky, R. and S.D. Tanksley, 198672314321Hightower, R.C. and R.B. Meagher,1986114315332Li, W.H. and D. Graur,1991Bhowmik, P.K., T. Matsui, H. Suzuki and Y. Kosugi,20032869872Wan, C.Y. and T.A. Wilkins,1994223712Moniz de Sa, M. and G. Drouin,19961311981212