title: Characterization and localization of Schistosoma mansoni calreticulin Sm58.
abstract: Recombinant Schistosoma mansoni calreticulin (SmCaR) was expressed in Escherichia coli, using the glutathione S-transferase fusion protein, and its Ca(2+)-binding capacity was determined. Results obtained by a 45Ca2+ overlay technique showed that Ca(2+)-binding site(s) were present in the recombinant CaR indicating that proper folding of the protein was obtained using this system. An antiserum raised against the recombinant SmCaR showed that the native protein (Sm58) was expressed in all stages of the life-cycle from cercariae to the adult worm and in the egg. However, SmCaR seems to be a developmentally regulated protein whose expression can be used to study the post-transformational differentiation of the schistosomulum. Localization of SmCaR demonstrated that the majority of SmCaR was expressed in the epithelia of the digestive duct and in the genital organs. These results suggest that SmCaR, by regulating the Ca2+ concentration, may play an important role during cell proliferation. Finally the presence of SmCaR in miracidia and in the genital organs suggests that the antibody response directed against this protein could interfere in egg production.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie et de Biologie Parasitaire, INSERM U 167-CNRS 624, Institut Pasteur, Lille, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khalife
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porchet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Godin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capron
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D001700:Biomphalaria; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037282:Calreticulin; D006224:Cricetinae; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D037282:Calreticulin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins