The folA gene from the Rickettsia endosymbiont of Ixodes pacificus encodes a functional dihydrofolate reductase enzyme.

ABSTRACT: Although nonpathogenic bacterial endosymbionts have been shown to contribute to their arthropod host's fitness by supplying them with essential vitamins and amino acids, little is known about the nutritional basis for the symbiotic relationship of endosymbionts in ticks. Our lab has previously reported that Rickettsia species phylotype G021 in Ixodes pacificus carries all five genes for de novo folate synthesis, and that these genes are monophyletic with homologs from other Rickettsia species. In this study, the rickettsial folate synthesis folA gene, coding for dihydrofolate reductase, was PCR amplified, cloned into an expression vector, and overexpressed in E. coli. Bioinformatic analysis identified that the FolA protein of phylotype G021 has the conserved DHFR domain, NADP binding sites

SUBMITTER: Bodnar JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5857425 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature