title: Cloning and characterization of a calcium-binding, histamine-releasing protein from Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: A homologue of the mammalian translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was cloned from the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni (SmTCTP). Sequence analysis showed that SmTCTP differed from other reported TCTPs in having only one signature sequence. Subsequently, SmTCTP was cloned in a T7 expression system and expressed as a histidine-tagged fusion protein. Recombinant SmTCTP (rSmTCTP) has a molecular mass of approximately 23 kDa with the histidine tag. Further analysis showed that SmTCTP transcripts and protein are expressed in all life cycle stages of the parasite within the vertebrate hosts. Interestingly, antibodies to SmTCTP were present in the sera of mice 9 weeks after infection with S. mansoni. Characterization studies showed that rSmTCTP is a calcium-binding protein that can cause histamine release from basophil/mast cells and induce eosinophil infiltration. These findings suggest that SmTCTP may have an important role in the development of allergic inflammatory responses associated with schistosomiasis and may be a target for new drug development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Rockford, IL 61107, USA.
authors.forename: Kakuturu V N
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Munirathinam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gnanasekar
authors.forename: Kalyanasundaram
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000737:chemistry*; D000090324:Tumor Protein, Translationally-Controlled 1
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C000715647:TPT1 protein, human; C000715648:Tpt1 protein, mouse; C000715649:Tpt1 protein, rat; D000090324:Tumor Protein, Translationally-Controlled 1; D002118:Calcium