A bone morphogenetic protein homologue in the parasitic flatworm, Schistosoma mansoni.

ABSTRACT: Members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) subfamily of cytokines control many aspects of metazoan development including patterning and organogenesis. Despite the recognition that schistosomes possess key components of a BMP signaling pathway, a BMP-like ligand in the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni remained elusive. Here, we describe the cloning and characterisation of an S. mansoni BMP (SmBMP). SmBMP is most closely related to BMP homologues from the free-living flatworms Schmidtea mediterranea and Dugesia japonica, with 51% and 47% identity at the amino acid level, respectively. Based on reverse transcription-PCR, SmBMP is expressed throughout the mammalian life-cycle of the parasite in both male and female schistosomes. In support of these results, antibodies to SmBMP succe

SUBMITTER: Freitas TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2852128 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature