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The two alleles of the hapP gene in Physarum polycephalum code for different proteins

G Lépine1, A Laroche, G Lemieux

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|December 27, 1995
PubMed

Insights

The hapP gene in Physarum polycephalum has two alleles, hapP1 and hapP2, which are expressed in the same cell. These alleles encode proteins with minor differences primarily in their central regions.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) exhibit cell-type specific expression patterns in the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum.
  • The most abundant plasmodial-specific mRNA, known as hapP, encodes a hydrophobic protein with a potential signal peptide.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic structure and expression of the hapP gene in Physarum polycephalum.
  • To characterize the allelic variations and protein differences between hapP1 and hapP2.

Main Methods:

  • Southern hybridization was employed to determine the copy number and allelic nature of the hapP gene.
  • Nucleotide sequencing of genomic and cDNA clones was performed to analyze hapP1 and hapP2 alleles.
  • Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was used to assess the expression of both alleles.

Main Results:

  • The hapP gene exists as a single copy with two alleles, hapP1 and hapP2, distinguishable by restriction enzyme polymorphisms.
  • Sequencing revealed that hapP1 and hapP2 alleles differ by 9.6% in amino acid sequence, with variations concentrated in the central protein region.
  • Both alleles are expressed within the same cell, as confirmed by RT-PCR analysis.

Conclusions:

  • The hapP gene in Physarum polycephalum is polymorphic, with two expressed alleles (hapP1 and hapP2) exhibiting distinct protein sequences.
  • Allelic variation in the hapP gene primarily affects the central region of the encoded protein, while flanking regions remain conserved.

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