3' gene regulatory elements required for expression of the Plasmodiumfalciparum developmental protein, Pfs25. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Development of sexual stage parasites within the mosquito vector is a crucial step in the transmission of Plasmodium parasites. The expression of the P25 and P28 proteins on the surface of Plasmodium parasites in the mosquito midgut is required for development and hence disease transmission. 3' gene-flanking sequences are essential for expression of these critical proteins but the nucleotide elements required are poorly defined. Transient gene transfection experiments using constructs containing deletions of the 3' gene-flanking region of the Plasmodium falciparum P25 homologue, pfs25, reveal that elements necessary for protein expression are within 315 nucleotides (nt) of the stop codon. A T-rich region 137-231 nt from the stop codon is required for expression. The nonamer AATAAAATG, 360 nt downstream from the stop codon, enhances expression by 51 percent. Using 3' RACE analysis, multiple polyadenylation sites from endogenous and plasmid-derived pfs25 transcripts were identified. Dissimilarities between the identified elements and those of metazoans support the hypothesis that definition of P25/28 3' gene regulatory processes may eventually permit the development of agents which block malaria transmission but are non-toxic to humans.

publication date

  • January 4, 2006

Research

keywords

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 33644821867

PubMed ID

  • 16439031

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 146

issue

  • 2