Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a P-glycoprotein homologue in Toxoplasma gondii

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2009 Jan;163(1):54-60. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2008.09.010. Epub 2008 Oct 17.

Abstract

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters represent an important family of membrane proteins involved in drug resistance and other biological activities. The present study reports on the characterization of a P-glycoprotein (Pgp), TgABC.B1, in the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The protein encoded by the TgABC.B1 gene displays the typical (TMD-NBD)2 structural organization of the "full" ABC transporter and shows significant identity and similarity with two apicomplexan Pgps; Pgh1 in Plasmodium falciparum and CpABC3 in Cryptosporidium parvum. The TgABC.B1 gene is a single copy gene transcribed into a full-length mRNA of 4.3kb and expressed as a protein of approximately 150kDa, which cellular localization revealed a membrane-associated labelling in tachyzoites. The TgABC.B1 gene is constitutively expressed in the three major T. gondii genotypes but demonstrated a higher expression in virulent type I, at both transcriptional and translational levels. Further characterization of this Pgp-like protein will increase our knowledge of the membrane transport system in this parasite and could result in the identification of a new therapeutic target in Toxoplasma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / chemistry
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / genetics*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gene Expression*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Toxoplasma / chemistry
  • Toxoplasma / genetics*
  • Toxoplasma / metabolism
  • Toxoplasmosis / parasitology*

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Protozoan Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/DQ094188
  • GENBANK/EU213065
  • GENBANK/EU213066
  • GENBANK/EU213067