title: Cloning and expression of the gene coding for the transmission blocking target antigen Pfs48/45 of Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: The gene encoding the gametocyte/gamete-specific membrane protein Pfs48/45 of Plasmodium falciparum has been cloned. The Pfs48/45 gene is a non-interrupted, single copy gene that codes for a hydrophobic, non-repetitive protein of 448 amino acid residues containing a putative signal peptide at the N-terminus, a hydrophobic C-terminus and 7 potential N-glycosylation sites. Antibodies directed against a Pfs48/45-glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein reacted with both the 45-kDa and 48-kDa proteins of gametocytes. When Pfs48/45 is expressed in the baculovirus-insect cell system the recombinant Pfs48/45 protein is targeted and exposed to the insect cell surface in such a configuration that it is recognized by transmission-blocking anti-45/48-kDa monoclonal antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kocken
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kaan
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ponnudurai
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kaslow
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Konings
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Schoenmakers
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C084847:pfs48-45 protein, Plasmodium falciparum