The promastigote surface antigen gene family of the Leishmania parasite: differential evolution by positive selection and recombination.

ABSTRACT:

Background

PSA (promastigote surface antigen) is one of the major classes of membrane proteins present at the surface of the parasitic protozoan Leishmania. While it harbours leucine rich repeats, which are suggestive of its involvement in parasite-to-host physical interactions, its exact role is largely unknown. Furthermore, the extent of diversity of this gene family, both in copy number and sequence has not been established.

Results

From the newly available complete genome sequences of L. major, L. infantum and L. braziliensis, we have established the complete list of PSA genes, based on the conservation of specific domain architecture. The latter includes an array of leucine rich repeats of unique signature flanked by conserved cysteine-rich domains. All PSA genes code e

SUBMITTER: Devault A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2584048 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature