title: Relationship between two tandemly arranged and light-induced glutathione S-transferase genes from the ciliated protozoa Blepharisma japonicum.
abstract: Recently we reported a light-induced cDNA encoding glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the ciliated protozoa Blepharisma japonicum, which possessed photosensitive pigments. In this study, a novel cDNA encoding GST was further isolated, and the two GSTs (BjGST1 and BjGST2) showed high sequence identity of 86%. Phylogenetic trees indicated that the BjGSTs were distantly related to known classes of GSTs, and they could form a protozoa-specific class. The recombinant proteins also existed as homo- or heterodimers that exhibited different enzyme activities, appreciating the functional differentiation. Furthermore, the transcription levels of BjGST genes were coordinately regulated in response to light stimulation. In addition, the genomic structure analysis revealed that the two genes were tandemly arranged through an approximately 500-bp spacer region of unusual DNA structure containing cis-acting elements related to oxidative stress response. These results demonstrate that the two BjGSTs are expressed simultaneously and act cooperatively against photooxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Kochi University, Kochi 780-8520, Japan. skc_uichi@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Tatsuomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005982:Glutathione Transferase