Comparative genomics and concerted evolution of beta-tubulin paralogs in Leishmania spp.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tubulin isotypes and expression patterns are highly regulated in diverse organisms. The genome sequence of the protozoan parasite Leishmania major contains three distinct beta-tubulin loci. To investigate the diversity of beta-tubulin genes, we have compared the published genome sequence to draft genome sequences of two further species L. infantum and L. braziliensis. Untranscribed regions and coding sequences for each isoform were compared within and between species in relation to the known diversity of beta-tubulin transcripts in Leishmania spp.

Results

All three beta-tubulin loci were present in L. infantum and L. braziliensis, showing conserved synteny with the L. major sequence, hence confirming that these loci are paralogous. Flanking regions suggested that

SUBMITTER: Jackson AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1533823 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature