Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel glutathione S-transferase gene induced by light stimulation in the protozoan Blepharisma japonicum.
A cDNA clone that is inducible by light stimulation was cloned by a differential screening method from a cDNA library of the protozoan Blepharisma japonicum, and the light-dependent expression was checked by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Sequence analysis showed that the cDNA encodes a glutathione S-transferase (GST) that has not been characterized in the protozoa. Multiple alignment of B. japonicum GST (BjGST1), known protozoan, and mammalian alpha-, micro-, pi-, sigma-, theta-, zeta-, kappa-, and omega-class GSTs suggested that the BjGST1 may be a novel class GST. Furthermore, highly conserved amino acid residues among the GSTs and the substrate specificity of recombinant BjGST1 showed that BjGST1 is related to alpha-, micro-, pi-, and sigma-class GSTs rather than the other class of GSTs.
Department of Natural Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Kochi University, Kochi 780-8520, Japan. yuichi@cc.kochi-u.ac.jp
Yuichi
Y
Takada
Kouji
K
Uda
Kazuo
K
Kawamura
Tatsuomi
T
Matsuoka
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D015723:Gene Library; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005982:Glutathione Transferase