Changes in repeat number, sequence, and reading frame in S-antigen genes of Plasmodium falciparum.
The S antigens from different isolates of Plasmodium falciparum exhibit extensive size, charge, and serological diversity. We show here that the S-antigen genes behave as multiple alleles of a single locus. The size heterogeneity results from different numbers, lengths, and/or sequences of tandem repeat units encoded within the S-antigen genes. Two genes studied here encode antigenically different S antigens but nevertheless have closely related tandem repeat sequences. We show that antigenic differences can arise because repeats are translated in different reading frames.
Saint
R B
RB
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Coppel
R L
RL
Cowman
A F
AF
Brown
G V
GV
Shi
P T
PT
Barzaga
N
N
Kemp
D J
DJ
Anders
R F
RF
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D019393:Arrestin; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005796:Genes; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D019393:Arrestin