title: Resolution of six chromosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis and conservation of size and number among isolates.
abstract: The electrophoretic karyotype of Trichomonas vaginalis isolates was determined by contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis. Six chromosomal bands ranging between 50 kbp and 6 Mbp were reliably resolved by our separation method. Trichomonad chromosomes fell into 3 distinct size classes. The 3 maxichromosomes were approximately 5,700, 4,700, and 3,500 kbp. Two intermediate-sized chromosomes were approximately 1,200 kbp and 1,100 kbp. A minichromosome was approximately 75 kbp. The same size and number of chromosomes were present in 15 T. vaginalis isolates obtained from different geographic regions, reinforcing the idea of a highly conserved karyotype among trichomonal isolates worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso 79968, USA.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lehker
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Alderete
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D007621:Karyotyping; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan