Molecular Cloning of Plasmodium vivax Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase 4.
10.3347/kjp.2010.48.4.319
- Author:
Kyung Mi CHOI
1
;
Jung Yeon KIM
;
Sung Ung MOON
;
Hyeong Woo LEE
;
Jetsumon SATTABONGKOT
;
Byoung Kuk NA
;
Dae Won KIM
;
Eun Jung SUH
;
Yeon Joo KIM
;
Shin Hyeong CHO
;
Ho Sa LEE
;
Ho Gun RHIE
;
Tong Soo KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul 122-701, Korea. tongsookim@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Brief Communication ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Plasmodium vivax;
calcium-dependent protein kinase;
schizont;
EF-hand motif
- MeSH:
Amino Acid Sequence;
Cloning, Molecular;
Conserved Sequence;
Escherichia coli/genetics;
Gene Expression;
Gene Expression Profiling;
Microscopy, Confocal;
Microscopy, Fluorescence;
Molecular Sequence Data;
Molecular Weight;
Plasmodium vivax/chemistry/*genetics;
Protein Kinases/analysis/chemistry/*genetics;
Protein Structure, Tertiary;
Protozoan Proteins/analysis/chemistry/*genetics;
Sequence Alignment
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2010;48(4):319-324
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A family of calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) is a unique enzyme which plays crucial roles in intracellular calcium signaling in plants, algae, and protozoa. CDPKs of malaria parasites are known to be key regulators for stage-specific cellular responses to calcium, a widespread secondary messenger that controls the progression of the parasite. In our study, we identified a gene encoding Plasmodium vivax CDPK4 (PvCDPK4) and characterized its molecular property and cellular localization. PvCDPK4 was a typical CDPK which had well-conserved N-terminal kinase domain and C-terminal calmodulin-like structure with 4 EF hand motifs for calcium-binding. The recombinant protein of EF hand domain of PvCDPK4 was expressed in E. coli and a 34 kDa product was obtained. Immunofluorescence assay by confocal laser microscopy revealed that the protein was expressed at the mature schizont of P. vivax. The expression of PvCDPK4-EF in schizont suggests that it may participate in the proliferation or egress process in the life cycle of this parasite.
