The MB2 gene family of Plasmodium species has a unique combination of S1 and GTP-binding domains.
BACKGROUND
Identification and characterization of novel Plasmodium gene families is necessary for developing new anti-malarial therapeutics. The products of the Plasmodium falciparum gene, MB2, were shown previously to have a stage-specific pattern of subcellular localization and proteolytic processing.


RESULTS
Genes homologous to MB2 were identified in five additional parasite species, P. knowlesi, P. gallinaceum, P. berghei, P. yoelii, and P. chabaudi. Sequence comparisons among the MB2 gene products reveal amino acid conservation of structural features, including putative S1 and GTP-binding domains, and putative signal peptides and nuclear localization signals.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of domains is unique to this gene family and indicates that MB2 genes comprise a novel family and therefore may be a good target for drug development.
Romero
Lisa C
LC
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA. lopie@uci.edu
Nguyen
Thanh V
TV
Deville
Benoit
B
Ogunjumo
Oluwasanmi
O
James
Anthony A
AA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000235:genetics; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics; D010964:Plasmodium gallinaceum / Q000235:genetics; D016790:Plasmodium knowlesi / Q000235:genetics; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000235:genetics; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020449:Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid / Q000235:genetics
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; C432245:MB2 protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D010455:Peptides; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins