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Cloning of a β‐tubulin gene from Plasmodium falciparum
Author(s) -
Delves C. J.,
Ridley R. G.,
Goman M.,
Holloway S. P.,
Hyde J. E.,
Scaife J. G.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1989.tb00137.x
Subject(s) - biology , gene , plasmodium falciparum , genetics , parasite hosting , intron , cloning (programming) , tubulin , malaria , microtubule , world wide web , computer science , immunology , programming language
Summary We describe the isolation and characterization of a gene for β‐tubulin from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. This organism appears to contain a single gene encoding β‐tubulin. A single transcript from this gene can be detected in the total RNA of the parasite's asexual blood stages. The complete sequence for the gene has been elucidated. It has two introns, one of which has a position identical to that of a related parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The gene shows the usual preference for codons with A or T in the third position. The predicted amino acid sequence is compared with that of T. gondii and the human host. Further comparisons between these and fungal sequences of β‐tubulins resistant to benomyl, a drug binding this protein, highlight differences that could be exploited in the development of parasite‐specific anti‐tubulin drugs.