Molecular characterization and expression of an alternate proliferating cell nuclear antigen homologue, PfPCNA2, in Plasmodium falciparum

    Authors

    S. Patterson; C. Whittle; C. Robert;D. Chakrabarti

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

    Keywords

    proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PCNA; Plasmodium falciparum; malaria; parasite; DNA replication; STAGE-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION; PLANT ARABIDOPSIS-THALIANA; MALARIA PARASITE; DNA; PCNA; GENE; SEQUENCE; CLONING; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Biophysics

    Abstract

    The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum genome sequencing has revealed the existence of a second gene for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a key factor in a variety of DNA metabolic events. The alternate copy of PCNA (PfPCNA2) shows only 23% identity to an earlier reported P. falciparum PCNA homologue (PfPCNA1). Our analysis indicated structural conservation of PfPCNA2 compared to eukaryotic PCNAs. PfPCNA1 and 2 polypeptides showed differential expression in the intra-erythrocytic cell cycle of the malaria parasite. PfPCNA1 expression slowly increases about threefold from the ring to the late schizont stage. In contrast PfPCNA2 showed robust expression in trophozoites and early schizonts with a sudden drop in expression in the late schizont stage, suggesting that the two PfPCNAs may function under different physiological conditions. Chemical cross-linking indicated the presence of a trimeric PfPCNA2 protein, indicating the possible existence of a functional ring-like PfPCNA2 structure. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

    Volume

    298

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2002

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    371

    Last Page

    376

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000179085100012

    ISSN

    0006-291X

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