Identification of the Plasmodium chabaudi homologue of merozoite surface proteins 4 and 5 of Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies of Plasmodium falciparum have identified a region of chromosome 2 in which are clustered three genes for glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored merozoite surface proteins, MSP2, MSP5, and MSP4, arranged in tandem. MSP4 and MSP5 both encode proteins 272 residues long that contain hydrophobic signal sequences, GPI attachment signals, and a single epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain at their carboxyl termini. Nevertheless, the remainder of their protein coding regions are quite dissimilar. The locations and similar structural features of these genes suggest that they have arisen from a gene duplication event. Here we describe the identification of the syntenic region of the genome in the murine malaria parasite, Plasmodium chabaudi adami DS. Only one open reading f

SUBMITTER: Black CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC115940 | biostudies-literature | 1999 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature