Genes encoding the major surface glycoprotein in Leishmania are tandemly linked at a single chromosomal locus and are constitutively transcribed

• Published in: Molecular and biochemical parasitology Vol. 32; no. 2-3; p. 271
• Main Authors: Button, L L, Russell, D G, Klein, H L, Medina-Acosta, E, Karess, R E, McMaster, W R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 15-01-1989
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; Chromosome Mapping; DNA Probes; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Linkage; Leishmania - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Multigene Family; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0166-6851
• DOI: 10.1016/0166-6851(89)90076-5

The major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania, gp63, is encoded by a small multi-gene family of tandemly linked genes which map to a single chromosome. For Leishmania major, there are five 3.1 kilobasepair (kb) direct repeat units which include a 1.8-kb open reading frame and a 1.3-kb intergenic or spacer region. In addition, there is a single gene copy linked as a direct repeat but separated from the tandem array of gp63 genes by about 8 kb. The restriction enzyme map of the repeat unit is highly conserved among the gene copies. The regions which flank the tandemly repeated genes diverge outside of the 3.1-kb repeat unit. Transcription of the gp63 gene locus is constitutive as the 3-kb transcript was present in promastigotes as well as in amastigotes. A minor 6-kb gp63 gene transcript was also detected in Northern blot analysis which could signify the transcription of the genes as a polycistronic or multigene precursor RNA.