title: Characterization of centrin genes in Paramecium.
abstract: Centrins are highly conserved, ubiquitous cytoskeletal components which belong to the EF-hand superfamily of Ca2+-modulated proteins. We report here the molecular characterization of new members of the centrin family, Paramecium centrins. Previous studies described the organization of the infraciliary lattice (ICL), the innermost cortical cytoskeletal network of Paramecium, and showed that it was composed of a set of low-molecular-mass, Ca2+-binding polypeptides [Garreau de Loubresse, N., Klotz, C., Vigues, B., Rutin, J & Beisson, J. (1991) Biol. Cell 71, 217-225]. In this paper we show that these polypeptides are recognized by specific anti-centrin polyclonal antibodies. Their microsequences revealed four distinct N-termini. For one of them, ICL1, N-terminal and internal peptide sequences were used for PCR amplification and cloning of a DNA fragment containing a complete centrin coding sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence presents about 50% identify with those of centrins from other species. Further molecular analysis allowed us to identify two additional closely related, co-expressed ICL1 genes, providing the first example of a centrin multigenic family in a microorganism.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Madeddu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Le Caer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beisson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D001483:Base Sequence; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007522:Isocitrate Lyase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010247:Paramecium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C099868:ICL1b protein, Paramecium tetraurelia; C099869:ICL1c protein, Paramecium tetraurelia; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C056608:caltractin; D007522:Isocitrate Lyase