Plasmodium falciparum asparagine and aspartate rich protein 2 is an evolutionary conserved protein whose repeats identify a new family of parasite antigens.
We describe here a new Plasmodium falciparum antigen, asparagine and aspartate rich protein 2 (PfAARP2) of 150 kDa, which is encoded by a unique gene on chromosome 1. PfAARP2 is first expressed 12 h post-invasion and accumulates in trophozoites and schizonts. Immunofluorescence studies indicate that PfAARP2 is translocated into the red blood cell cytoplasm. The central region of Pfaarp2 contains blocks of repetitions encoding asparagine and aspartate residues, which define a new family of related genes dispersed on different chromosomes, and two members of this family have also been identified. Interestingly, the non-repeated N- and C-termini of PfAARP2 display significant similarity to two yeast and human predicted proteins, and its possible function is discussed.
Barale
J C
JC
URA CNRS 1960, Department of Immunology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Attal-Bonnefoy
G
G
Brahimi
K
K
Pereira da Silva
L
L
Langsley
G
G
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
C108227:AARP2 protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins