A var gene upstream element controls protein synthesis at the level of translation initiation in Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: Clonally variant protein expression in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum generates phenotypic variability and allows isogenic populations to adapt to environmental changes encountered during blood stage infection. The underlying regulatory mechanisms are best studied for the major virulence factor P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). PfEMP1 is encoded by the multicopy var gene family and only a single variant is expressed in individual parasites, a concept known as mutual exclusion or singular gene choice. var gene activation occurs in situ and is achieved through the escape of one locus from epigenetic silencing. Singular gene choice is controlled at the level of transcription initiation and var 5' upstream (ups) sequences harbour regulatory information essentia

SUBMITTER: Brancucci NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4061111 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature