title: Molecular analysis of SmFes, a tyrosine kinase of Schistosoma mansoni orthologous to the members of the Fes/Fps/Fer family.
abstract: A novel protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) was identified in Schistosoma mansoni and designated SmFes. SmFes exhibits the characteristic features of Fes/Fps/Fer (fes, feline sarcoma; fps, Fujinami poultry sarcoma; fer, fes related) PTKs, containing three coiled-coil regions, an SH2 (Src-homology-2) and a TK (tyrosine kinase catalytic) domain signature. SmFes is the first gene from the Fes/Fps/Fer family identified in S. mansoni, and is a single copy gene. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that SmFes is most closely related to its invertebrate orthologues. The assembly of the SmFes cDNA and genomic sequences indicated the presence of 18 introns in SmFes. Comparison of its genomic structure with those of human Fps/Fes and Drosophila Fps indicates that intron positions are conserved within the region encoding the kinase domain. Analysis of partial cDNA clones showed the presence of a 9 bp insertion at the 3' end of exon 10, producing two different cDNA populations, pointed as an alternative splicing event. In addition, an allele of SmFes containing a 15 bp insertion was observed in the genomic sequence. Quantitative RT-PCR indicated that the overall transcription level of SmFes is rather low in all parasite developmental stages. Moreover, SmFes mRNA levels decrease progressively after cercarial transformation, consistent with a role for the corresponding protein in the early stages of infection.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-FIOCRUZ, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ludolf
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bahia
authors.forename: Luiza F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cousin
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capron
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dissous
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: C052602:proto-oncogene protein c-fes-fps; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases