Cloning of a β-tubulin gene from Plasmodium falciparum

C. J. Delves, R. G. Ridley, M. Goman, S. P. Holloway, J. E. Hyde, J. G. Scaife

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We describe the isolation and characterization of a gene for β-tubulin from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. This organism appears to contain a single gene encoding β-tubulin. A single transcript from this gene can be detected in the total RNA of the parasite's asexual blood stages. The complete sequence for the gene has been elucidated. It has two introns, one of which has a position identical to that of a related parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The gene shows the usual preference for codons with A or T in the third position. The predicted amino acid sequence is compared with that of T. gondii and the human host. Further comparisons between these and fungal sequences of β-tubulins resistant to benomyl, a drug binding this protein, highlight differences that could be exploited in the development of parasite-specific antitubulin drugs.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1511-1519
    Number of pages8
    JournalMolecular Microbiology
    Volume3
    Issue number11
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1989

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