Conserved associations between G-quadruplex-forming DNA motifs and virulence gene families in malaria parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Plasmodium genus of malaria parasites encodes several families of antigen-encoding genes. These genes tend to be hyper-variable, highly recombinogenic and variantly expressed. The best-characterized family is the var genes, exclusively found in the Laveranian subgenus of malaria parasites infecting humans and great apes. Var genes encode major virulence factors involved in immune evasion and the maintenance of chronic infections. In the human parasite P. falciparum, var gene recombination and diversification appear to be promoted by G-quadruplex (G4) DNA motifs, which are strongly associated with var genes in P. falciparum. Here, we investigated how this association might have evolved across Plasmodium species - both Laverania and also more distantly related species

SUBMITTER: Gage HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7077173 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature