title: Thymine distribution in genes provides novel insight into the functional significance of the proteome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum 3D7.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)-mediated malaria is one of the most devastating diseases in the world, and the search for suitable antimalarial drugs remains an extraordinary challenge for scientists working in this area. Novel unconventional approaches could reveal new potential targets that may be useful for the treatment of malaria. We used a bioinformatics approach to analyze the entire genome of the Pf3D7 strain. Because the carbon (C-) content is a pivotal parameter that determines the hydrophobicity of a protein, which in turn controls protein folding and function, we analyzed the entire Pf3D7 proteome based on the gene's thymine (T)-controlled amino acid expression. Our data disclose a total of 14 proteins encoded by chromosome-4 and chromosome-9 that have an outstanding T-encoded and C-controlled hydrophobic character. The identification of these proteins could open new pivotal drug-targeting avenues.
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Karunya University, Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore 641114, Tamil Nadu, India and Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Balamurugan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Palanisamy
authors.forename: Rajasekaran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ekambaram
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heese
mesh_terms: D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D023281:Genomics; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020543:Proteome / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D013941:Thymine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D013941:Thymine