title: Partial nucleotide sequence and organisation of extrachromosomal plastid-like DNA in Plasmodium berghei.
abstract: The murine malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei contains a plastid-like extrachromosomal genome. This genome is 30.7 kb in size and is transcriptionally active as shown by RT-PCR. DNA sequence analysis of the genome reveals 69.9-95.5% homology to sequences of the 35-kb extrachromosomal circle found in the human malaria species Plasmodium falciparum. Homologous sequences include regions of genes for the ssu-rRNA, lsu-rRNA, rpo B and clusters of t-RNAs. Sequence variation between the two Plasmodium species exists in the non-coding interspacing regions. A physical map has been constructed for the P. berghei circle, indicating the EcoRI and HindIII restriction sites as well as the arrangement of the rRNA, rpo B and tRNA genes. Arrangement of these genes is similar to that found on the P. falciparum 35-kb circle. The P. berghei circular element is distinct from the mitochondrial 6-kb DNA of both the murine and the human Plasmodium species. Preliminary results indicate that the circle may be a useful target for drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: ten Heggeler-Bordier
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000235:genetics*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics; D018087:Plastids / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016053:RNA, Protozoan