Characterisation and expression of a stage-regulated gene of Leishmania major

This paper describes the isolation and characterisation of the meta 1 gene from Leishmania major, that is expressed predominantly in infective metacyclic parasites. The termini of the major 2-kb transcript derived from this gene have been mapped and polypyrimidine sequences implicated in RNA processing located in the flanking regions. The meta 1 gene is conserved in both Old and New World Leishmania species and codes for a putative protein of 112 amino acids. Antibodies raised against a recombinant protein expressed from this open reading frame recognise an 11.5-kDa protein in metacyclic cell lysates and this molecule localises to the region of the flagellar pocket by indirect immunofluorescence.