title: Identification of Ras, MAP kinases, and a GAP protein in Schistosoma mansoni by immunoblotting and their putative involvement in male-female interaction.
abstract: The maturation of female Schistosoma mansoni depends on pairing with a male which induces mitotic activities in the reproductive organs of the female worm. Since in other organisms cell proliferation is regulated by well-conserved signal transducing molecules, we looked for such molecules on immunoblots of schistosomes, using antibodies against conserved epitopes of Ras, GAP and MAP kinases. We identified all 3 molecules in schistosomes and found that they are developmentally regulated. Furthermore, there is evidence for their involvement in the male-directed maturation of the female.
authors.affiliation: Institute für Genetik, Genetische Parasitologie und Biologisch-Medizinisches Forschungszentrum, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schüssler
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Grevelding
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kunz
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins