title: Excess polymorphisms in genes for membrane proteins in Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: The detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in pathogenic microorganisms has normally been carried out by trial and error. Here we show that DNA hybridization with high-density oligonucleotide arrays provides rapid and convenient detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum, despite its exceptionally high adenine-thymine (AT) content (82%). A disproportionate number of polymorphisms are found in genes encoding proteins associated with the cell membrane. These genes are targets for only 22% of the oligonucleotide probes but account for 69% of the polymorphisms. Genetic variation is also enriched in subtelomeric regions, which account for 22% of the chromosome but 76% of the polymorphisms.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D015800:Protozoan Proteins