Sequence identification of cytochrome b in Plasmodium gallinaceum.
We have identified a gene that encodes the polypeptide cytochrome b in the avian malarial parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum. The gene containing the open reading frame was found to be located on a 6.2-kilobase multimeric extrachromosomal element. The amino acid translation from this gene demonstrated significant similarities to cytochrome b sequences from yeast, mammal, and fungus genomes. We present evidence that the P. gallinaceum cytochrome b transcript is part of a larger primary transcript from the element that is subsequently processed. The message for P. gallinaceum cytochrome b was found to be 1.2 kilobases in size. This is the first report identifying a mitochondrial nucleic acid sequence in malaria-causing organisms and suggests that a functional cytochrome system may exist in these parasites.
Department of Tropical Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
S M
SM
Aldritt
J T
JT
Joseph
D F
DF
Wirth
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003573:Cytochrome b Group / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics*; D010964:Plasmodium gallinaceum / Q000235:genetics*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D003573:Cytochrome b Group; D004247:DNA