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Published on: June 10, 2015
Partial nucleotide sequence and organisation of extrachromosomal plastid-like DNA in Plasmodium berghei
M W Yap1, U A Kara, B ten Heggeler-Bordier
1Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract:
The murine malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei contains a plastid-like extrachromosomal genome. This genome is 30.7 kb in size and is transcriptionally active as shown by RT-PCR. DNA sequence analysis of the genome reveals 69.9-95.5% homology to sequences of the 35-kb extrachromosomal circle found in the human malaria species Plasmodium falciparum. Homologous sequences include regions of genes for the ssu-rRNA, lsu-rRNA, rpo B and clusters of t-RNAs. Sequence variation between the two Plasmodium species exists in the non-coding interspacing regions. A physical map has been constructed for the P. berghei circle, indicating the EcoRI and HindIII restriction sites as well as the arrangement of the rRNA, rpo B and tRNA genes. Arrangement of these genes is similar to that found on the P. falciparum 35-kb circle. The P. berghei circular element is distinct from the mitochondrial 6-kb DNA of both the murine and the human Plasmodium species. Preliminary results indicate that the circle may be a useful target for drug therapy.
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