Molecular characterization and expression of a novel kinesin which localizes with the kinetoplast in the human pathogen, Leishmania donovani

Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 2008 Apr;65(4):269-80. doi: 10.1002/cm.20259.

Abstract

Using a variety of molecular and cell biological approaches, we identified, characterized and expressed a novel kinesin, LdK39B in the protozoan pathogen Leishmania donovani. Results of RT-PCR revealed two distinct LdK39B products with different splice leader mini-exon sites, indicative of two potentially mature mRNA transcripts. Analyses indicated that LdK39B had a calculated molecular mass of >261, 327 Da and contained multiple amino acid repeat units. Several GFP-LdK39B fusion constructs were generated and used for episomal-expression in these parasites. Results of confocal and immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the GFP-LdK39B-fusion proteins localized to a region adjacent to the flagellar pocket and the kinetoplast i.e. the mitochondrial-DNA containing organelle that is physically tethered to the flagellar basal bodies. Sub-cellular fractionation results showed that GFP-LdK39B proteins were insoluble in nature and remained tightly associated with purified flagella/kinetoplasts following their extraction with detergent and high salts. Our cumulative results suggest that the LdK39B may play a scaffold-like role in facilitating and maintaining the unique spatial/structural association between the flagellum-basal body-kinetoplast complex in these parasites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Kinetoplast / metabolism*
  • Kinesins / genetics
  • Kinesins / isolation & purification
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Leishmania donovani / cytology
  • Leishmania donovani / metabolism*
  • Leishmania donovani / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Kinetoplast
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Kinesins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EF617308