The sequence of an alpha-tubulin from Prunus amygdalus has been obtained by cDNA cloning. When this sequence is compared to that of the Tub alpha 1 gene from maize it shows a very high degree of similarity, much higher than any of the alpha-tubulin sequences reported so far from plants. The expression of this gene is high in the stages of seed development where a high divisional activity is present. It is preferentially expressed in the radicular tissues as it is gene Tub alpha 1 in maize. Southern analysis indicates that this gene may form a subfamily of alpha-tubulin genes having similar sequence and tissue specificity and existing at least in maize and in Prunus.