A Proline-Rich Structural Protein of the Surface Sheath of Larval Brugia Filarial Nematode Parasites
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-15-1991
Publication Title
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
Abstract
Both cDNA and genomic DNA sequences have been isolated which encode a proline-rich precursor protein of the sheath from microfilariae, the first stage larvae of the filarial nematode parasites Brugia pahangi andBrugia malayi. This 22-kDa protein is soluble only under reducing conditions and is extensively cross- linked by both disulfide and nonreducible bonds. Immunogold electron microscopy shows that the protein is localized exclusively in the sheath, a vestigial remnant of the eggshell, which is retained by and encloses the mature microfilaria. Analysis by Western blotting confirms that the protein is expressed only in microfilariae and adult female worms, although transcripts are detectable only in adult females. The deduced amino acid sequence contains a short N-terminal hydrophobic putative leader sequence, a central repetitive domain that contains 14 copies of a degenerate 5-amino acid repeat with the consensus sequence Met- Pro-Pro-Gln-Gly, and a C-terminal prolinerich do- main flanked by clusters of cysteine residues. These clusters can be aligned with cysteine residues implicated in cross-linking of a family of cuticular collagens originally identified in Caenorhabditiselegans but which extends to other nematodes.
Volume
266
Issue
17
First Page
11002
Last Page
11008
Rights
©1991 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc
Recommended Citation
Selkirk, Murray E.; Yazdanbakhsh, Maria; Freedman, Danie; Blaxter, Mark L.; Cookson, Edith; Jenkins, Rosalind E.; and Williams, Steven A., "A Proline-Rich Structural Protein of the Surface Sheath of Larval Brugia Filarial Nematode Parasites" (1991). Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/bio_facpubs/36
Comments
Archived as published.