The first isolated collagen gene of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica is developmentally regulated.
The nematode's surface comprises a multilayered cuticle, which consists mainly of collagen proteins. We identified, cloned and characterized the first cuticular collagen gene, Mjcol-3, of the plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne javanica. The gene putatively encodes a 32.4-kDa collagen protein, including a propeptide which possesses a subtilisin-like protease-cleavage site. Six introns were identified in the gene sequence, with three slightly different acceptor-splicing sites. The basic structure of the predicted MJCOL-3 protein sequence is highly similar to that of the Caenorhabditis elegans DPY-7, with 65.9% identity between the two amino acid sequences. Relative to DPY-7, the putative MJCOL-3 protein has a shorter carboxy-terminus. This non-conserved feature may indicate different contributions of DPY-7 and MJCOL-3 collagens to the structure of the cuticle. Mjcol-3 is developmentally regulated: transcripts were found mainly in preparasitic developing eggs, less in parasitic third- and fourth-stage juveniles and young females shortly after the fourth molt, and much less in females before egg-laying.
Koltai
H
H
Department of Nematology, A.R.O., Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel. phinan@volcani.agri.gov.il
Chejanovsky
N
N
Raccah
B
B
Spiegel
Y
Y
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000469:parasitology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*
D015801:Helminth Proteins; C108567:col-3 protein, Meloidogyne javanica; D003094:Collagen