title: The gene encoding the metacyclogenesis-associated transcript Mat-1 is conserved in the genus Leishmania and shows a tendency to form dimers upon protein expression.
abstract: The Leishmania infantum Mat-1 gene--recently described in L. major as a highly stage-specific, metacyclogenesis-associated transcript--has been cloned. The 420-bp Mat-1 coding region is conserved with respect to the L. major gene (82% sequence homology). Analysis of the predicted amino-acid sequence reveals structural motifs showing homology with the class of leucine-zipper transcription factors. Southern-blot hybridization analysis suggests that Mat-1 is a low-copy-number gene, probably consisting of two gene copies. The recombinant Mat-1 protein expressed in fusion with the Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein shows a tendency to form dimers in the presence of the leucine-rich C-terminal domain. Bacteria expressing the Mat-1 open reading frame are highly growth-attenuated and tend to delete or modify the insert, which suggests that expression of Mat-1 is toxic for the bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Group, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muskus
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Arbelaez
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Alzate
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berberich
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019281:Dimerization; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C075459:major promastigote-associated transcript 1 protein, Leishmania major