Entamoeba histolytica: cloning and expression of the poly(A) polymerase EhPAP

Exp Parasitol. 2005 Jul;110(3):226-32. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2005.02.017. Epub 2005 Apr 1.

Abstract

In eukaryotes, polyadenylation of pre-mRNA 3' end is essential for mRNA export, stability, and translation. Here we identified and cloned a gene codifying for a putative nuclear poly(A) polymerase (EhPAP) in Entamoeba histolytica. Protein sequence alignments with eukaryotic PAPs showed that EhPAP has the RNA-binding region and the PAP central domain with the catalytic nucleotidyl transferase domain described for other nuclear PAPs. Recombinant EhPAP expressed in bacteria was used to generate specific antibodies, which recognized two EhPAP isoforms of 60 and 63kDa in nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts by Western blot assays. RT-PCR assays showed that EhPap mRNA expression varies in multidrug-resistant trophozoites growing in different emetine concentrations. Moreover, EhPap mRNA expression is about 10- and 7-fold increased in G1 and S phase, respectively, through cell cycle progression. These results suggest the existence of a link between EhPAP expression and MDR and cell cycle regulation, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple / physiology
  • Entamoeba histolytica / classification
  • Entamoeba histolytica / cytology
  • Entamoeba histolytica / enzymology*
  • Entamoeba histolytica / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / chemistry
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / genetics*
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase