title: Characterisation of a second protein encoded by the differentially regulated LmcDNA16 gene family of Leishmania major.
abstract: The LmcDNA16 gene family of Leishmania major contains five genes: three highly related sequences, genes A, B and C, and a tandem pair of unrelated sequences, genes D1 and D2. Previous studies have demonstrated that gene B codes for a novel, hydrophilic protein that is present on the surface of infective parasite stages at approximately 10(5) copies per call. This paper describes the identification and characterisation of a second protein encoded by this gene array: the 7.6 kDa A/C protein. This molecule shares considerable amino acid identity with the gene B protein (GBP) but lacks the characteristic proline rich amino acid repeat region. Like GBP, the A/C protein is expressed on the surface of infective metacyclic parasites, despite the lack of conventional signal and anchor sequences. It has previously been suggested that the GBP repetitive sequence plays a role in mediating protein attachment to the parasite surface. It now appears more likely that the conserved amino- and/or carboxyl-terminal domains of the A/C and B proteins are involved in this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McKean
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delahay
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000939:Epitopes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015800:Protozoan Proteins