Molecular cloning and sequence of two novel P-type adenosinetriphosphatases from Plasmodium falciparum

We have identified two novel P-type ATPase genes from Plasmodium falciparum and report the full-length nucleotide and derived amino acid sequence of the ATPase2 gene from P. falciparum (PfATPase2). PfATPase2 is phylogenetically remote from the different members of prokaryotic and mammalian P-type ATPases but shares features with a putative membrane-spanning Ca2+ ATPase involved in ribosome function in yeast. PfATPase2 is expressed during the intraerythrocytic life cycle of the parasite and appears to be required in the late stages of its asexual development. We also present the partial sequence of another malarial gene displaying sequence similarity with the family of P-type transporting ATPases (PfATPase4). We have analysed the organisation of the genes encoding the P-type ATPases of P. falciparum and show that they are a highly dispersed gene family.