The expression of the Leishmania infantum KMP-11 protein is developmentally regulated and stage specific.
Transcription of the gene coding for the KMP-11 protein of Leishmania infantum results in the production of a mature RNA transcript of 1.3 kb in length. The expression of KMP-11 mRNA is strongly down-regulated not only during the parasite growth from the logarithmic to the stationary phase but also during the differentiation transit from promastigotes to amastigotes. The estimated concentration of KMP-11 is one order of magnitude higher in promastigotes than in amastigotes. The analysis of the Triton X-114 phase partition of the protein shows that, in agreement with its predicted secondary structure, KMP-11 has an amphipathic nature since it is found in the aqueous as well as in the detergent phase. By fluorescence microscopy a defined pattern of distribution of the protein was observed only in promastigotes where KMP-11 is mainly located in the flagellum and the flagellar pocket.
Berberich
C
C
Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa', UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
Machado
G
G
Morales
G
G
Carrillo
G
G
Jiménez-Ruiz
A
A
Alonso
C
C
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; C090009:kinetoplastid membrane protein 11, Leishmania donovani