Nucleotide sequence and expression of a beta-tubulin gene from Plasmodium falciparum, a malarial parasite of man.
Genomic and cDNA clones, containing a Plasmodium falciparum beta-tubulin coding sequence (pf-bTub), were isolated and characterized. Comparison of the genomic sequence with the cDNA sequence showed that the malarial bTub-coding region is interrupted by two introns, the positions of which are not found in any beta-tubulin gene (btub) from other species. The gene appears to be present as a single-copy gene in the P. falciparum genome and is expressed as a 2.3-kb transcript both in the asexual blood stages and in the sexual stages (gametes/zygotes) of the parasite. The deduced polypeptide product of the pf-btub gene is a protein of 445 amino acids (aa) (Mr 49,517). Comparison of the aa sequence of pf-bTub with that of bTubs from other species revealed that the malarial protein shows a high degree of similarity to mammalian bTubs. Upon examination of the colchicine-binding sites of pf-bTub we predict that this tubulin probably has an altered sensitivity to this inhibitor.
Wesseling
J G
JG
Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Dirks
R
R
Smits
M A
MA
Schoenmakers
J G
JG
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
D014404:Tubulin; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA