Chromosome translocation in Plasmodium berghei

• Published in: Nucleic acids research Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 581 - 586
• Main Authors: Janse, C.J., Ramesar, J., Mons, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 11-02-1992
• Subjects: Actins - genetics; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Southern; Chromosomes - metabolism; Cytogenetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Karyotyping; Plasmodium berghei; Plasmodium berghei - genetics; Plasmodium berghei - growth & development; Protozoa; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid - genetics; RNA, Protozoan - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase - genetics; Translocation, Genetic - genetics; Chromosomal aberration; Protozoa; Plasmodium berghei; Abnormal chromosome; Sporozoa; Karyotype; Mechanism; Chromosome translocation
• ISSN: 0305-1048; 1362-4962
• DOI: 10.1093/nar/20.3.581

We decribe a chromosome translocation in a karyotype mutant of the rodent malarial parasite Plasmodium berghei. In this mutant (named EP) a small chromosome (chromosome 7), which has exhibited a size range between 0.9 and 1.4 Mb in other clones of P. berghei, is translocated to chromosome 13 or 14 with a size of about 3 Mb. By comparison of Apa-I restriction fragments of the chromosomes from mutant EP and from a reference clone (named HP) of P. berghei, we found evidence for a junction of subtelommeric chromosome 7 sequences and internal chromosome 13/14 sequences. In addition, a new chromosome of 1.4 Mb (named EP7) is present in mutant EP, which is (mairnlly) composed of sequences of chromosome 13/14. EP7 contains one telomeric region derived from chromosome 13/14. We found evidence that internal sequences of chromosome 13/14 are joined to telomeric sequences in the other telomeric region of EP7. The karyotype of mutant EP was stable during asexual and sexual multiplication and we found no indications for phenotypic changes.