A genomic glimpse of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasmodium parasites are causative agents of malaria which affects >500 million people and claims approximately 2 million lives annually. The completion of Plasmodium genome sequencing and availability of PlasmoDB database has provided a platform for systematic study of parasite genome. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are pivotal enzymes for protein translation and other vital cellular processes. We report an extensive analysis of the Plasmodium falciparum genome to identify and classify aaRSs in this organism.

Results

Using various computational and bioinformatics tools, we have identified 37 aaRSs in P. falciparum. Our key observations are: (i) fraction of proteome dedicated to aaRSs in P. falciparum is very high compared to many other organisms; (ii) 23 out

SUBMITTER: Bhatt TK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2813244 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature