title: Lack of sequence diversity in the gene encoding merozoite surface protein 5 of Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: The gene encoding merozoite surface protein 5 (MSP5) of Plasmodium falciparum is situated between the genes encoding MSP2 and MSP4 on chromosome 2. Both MSP4 and MSP5 encode proteins that contain hydrophobic signal and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) attachment signals and a single epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain at their carboxyl termini. The similar gene organization, location and similar structural features of the two genes suggest that they have arisen from a gene duplication event. In this study we provide further evidence for the merozoite surface location of MSP5 by demonstrating that MSP5 is present in isolated merozoites, partitions in the detergent-enriched phase following Triton X-114 fractionation and shows a staining pattern consistent with merozoite surface location by indirect immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Analysis of antigenic diversity of MSP5 shows a lack of sequence variation between various isolates of P. falciparum from different geographical locations, a feature unusual for surface proteins of merozoites and one that may simplify vaccine formulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hibbs
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Coppel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D001483:Base Sequence; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D007438:Introns; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C114957:merozoite surface protein 5