3' UTR elements enhance expression of Pgs28, an ookinete protein of Plasmodium gallinaceum

Linnie M. Golightly, Wilfred Mbacham, Johanna Daily, Dyann F. Wirth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

In Plasmodium parasites the fusion of gametes to form a fertilized zygote and morphogenesis into the motile ookinete are critical developmental stages in the parasite's complex life cycle. In analogous developmental stages of metazoan organisms 3' gene flanking regions are critical in the regulation of gene expression. To determine whether these mechanisms are conserved in the protozoan parasite we studied the 3' gene flanking elements necessary for the expression of Pgs28, the major surface protein of mature zygotes and ookinetes of the chicken malaria Plasmodium gallinaceum. The DNA sequence of the pgs28 3' gene flanking region contains 7 eukaryotic polyadenylation consensus signals (AATAAA/ATTAAA). An unusual 82% T-rich region is located 55 nucleotides upstream of the fifth polyadenylation signal (ATTAAA). The pgs28 mRNA terminates approximately 20 nucleotides from the polyadenylation signal in a poly (A) tail. To determine whether the T-rich region and polyadenylation signals were necessary for Pgs28 protein expression, sexual stage parasites were transfected with plasmids containing deletions of these elements utilizing firefly luciferase (LUC) and β- glucuronidase (GUS) as markers of transient gene transfection. The parasites were allowed to develop in vitro to the ookinete stage and assayed for enzymatic activity. Cells transfected with plasmids containing deletions of the T-rich region or fifth eukaryotic polyadenylation consensus signal expressed 89 and 92% less enzymatic activity respectively than those transfected with the full length pgs28 3' gene flanking region. The U-rich element and fifth eukaryotic polyadenylation consensus sequence within the pgs28 3' UTR are therefore necessary for Pgs28 protein expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)61-70
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular and Biochemical Parasitology
Volume105
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 5 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 3' UTR
  • Gene regulation
  • Malaria
  • Polyadenylation
  • Sexual stage
  • Transfection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

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