Bioinformatics analysis of the structure and linear B-cell epitopes of aquaporin-3 from Schistosoma japonicum.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the structure of aquaporins-3(AQP-3) from Schistosoma japonicum(SJAQP-3) using bioinformatical methods, and to provid of references for vaccine targets research.


METHODS
Protparam, BepiPred, TMHMM Server, MLRC, Geno3d, DNA star software packages were used to predict the physical and chemical properties, hydrophilicity plot, flexibility regions, antigenic index, surface probability plot, secondary structure, and tertiary structure of amino acid sequence of SJAQP-3.


RESULTS
SJAQP-3 had six transmembrane regions and two half-spanning helices that form a central channel. The half-spanning helices fold into the centre of the channel. Either of the half-spanning helix had a conserved motif of NPA common to all aquaporins. Predicted linear B-Cell epitopes were most likely at the N-terminal amino acid residues of 5aa-7aa, 59aa-62aa, 225aa-230aa, 282aa -288aa, 294aa -298aa and 305aa -307aa area. 59aa- 62aa, 225aa-230aa located outside the membrane, the others located inside the cell.


CONCLUSIONS
SJAQP-3 is a integral membrane protein in Schistosoma japonicum tegument. There are six potential epitopes in SJAQP-3. It might be a potential molecular target for the development of vaccines.
Department of Parasitology, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
Jie
J
Song
Qing-Feng
QF
He
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D051400:Aquaporin 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D019295:Computational Biology; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination
D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D051400:Aquaporin 3