Identification of novel 70-kDa heat shock protein-encoding cDNAs from Schistosoma japonicum

A diverse range of organisms respond to a variety of chemical, physiological and temperature-associated stresses by a rapid and transient increase in the synthesis of heat shock proteins. We immunoscreened a Uni-ZAP XR cDNA library, prepared from mRNA isolated from the Philippine strain of the Asian bloodfluke, Schistosoma japonicum, using hyperimmune rabbit sera raised against soluble adult S. japonicum proteins. Six 70-kDa heat shock protein-encoding cDNA clones were identified which, upon further analysis, were separated into two distinct protein groups within the 70-kDa heat shock protein family, the 70-kDa heat shock proteins and the immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding proteins/glucose-related proteins (Grp78). A representative from both groups was fully sequenced and compared with homologous sequences available in the GenBank/EMBL database as the first stage in determining the role of their expression products in the regulation of S. japonicum development, in the induction of immunity, and whether they act as molecular chaperones capable of modulating the correct folding or repair of proteins within this species of schistosome.