Journal article
Organization, transcription, and expression of rhoptry associated protein genes in the Babesia bigemina rap-1 locus
Molecular and biochemical parasitology, Vol.127(2), pp.101-112
2003
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/116590
PMID: 12672519
Abstract
The
Babesia bigemina rap-1 gene locus contains five tandemly arranged copies of
rap-1a genes. However, the size of the locus, as defined by conserved, unrelated orfs at the 5′ and 3′ ends, suggests that additional genes may be present. In this study, we identified all additional genes in the locus and characterized their pattern of expression in merozoites. The
rap-1a genes are separated by 3.38-kbp intergenic (IG) regions, each of which contains an identical copy of a related gene designated
rap-1b. One additional copy of
rap-1b and one copy of another related gene designated
rap-1c is present in the 3′ end of the locus. Common sequence features that define the
Babesia rap-1 family are present in
rap-1b and
rap-1c, but otherwise these genes average only 27% identity to
rap-1a. Homologues of the
rap-1b and
rap-1c genes identified in diverse
B. bigemina strains have a high degree of predicted amino acid sequence conservation (averaging >90%), with the largest number of changes in the carboxyl end of RAP-1c. We tested whether all
rap-1 genes in the locus are co-transcribed in merozoites using RT-PCR, Northern blots, and quantitative real-time PCR.
Rap-1a genes produce the most abundant transcripts of the family, while
rap-1b transcripts are the least abundant despite the large number of gene copies. Similar patterns of transcription were observed whether merozoites were obtained from in vitro cultures or in vivo infection. Immunoblot analysis of merozoites revealed the expected RAP-1a expression but failed to detect expressed RAP-1b and RAP-1c, indicating that expression of the
rap-1 genes is regulated both at the transcriptional and translational levels.
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Details
- Title
- Organization, transcription, and expression of rhoptry associated protein genes in the Babesia bigemina rap-1 locus
- Creators
- Carlos E Suarez - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USAGuy H Palmer - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USAMonica Florin-Christensen - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USAStephen A Hines - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USAIsidro Hötzel - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USATerry F McElwain - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA
- Publication Details
- Molecular and biochemical parasitology, Vol.127(2), pp.101-112
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Medicine, College of; Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Identifiers
- 99900547456001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article