High-Mobility-Group Box Nuclear Factors of Plasmodium falciparum

• DOI: 10.1128/ec.5.4.672-682.2006
• Publication Date: 2006-04-10T22:42:46Z
• Authors: Sylvie Briquet; Charlotte Boschet; Mathieu Gissot; Emilie Tissandié; Elisa Sevilla; Jean-François Fr...; Isabelle Thiery; Zuhal Hamid; Catherine Bourgouin; Catherine Vaquero
• Keywords: High-mobility group; HMG-box; Transcription

ABSTRACT In eukaryotes, the high-mobility-group (HMG) nuclear factors are highly conserved throughout evolution and divided into three families, including HGMB, characterized by an HMG box domain. Some HMGB DNA structure specific preferentially interact with distorted sequences, trigger bending, hence facilitate binding of nucleoprotein complexes that in turn activate or repress transcription. Plasmodium falciparum , two were predicted: PfHMGB1 PfHMGB2. They small proteins, under 100 amino acids long, encompassing a characteristic domain closely related to B metazoan factors, which comprises domains, A B, tandem. Computational analyses supported conclusion proteins genuine architectural vitro performed both recombinant established they able structures bend linear different affinities. These detected asexual- gametocyte-stage cells Western blotting experiments mainly parasite nuclei. is expressed asexual erythrocytic stages PfHMGB2 gametocytes, good correlation transcript levels expression. Finally, immunofluorescence studies revealed differential subcellular localizations: observed nucleus sexual-stage cells, was also cytoplasm gametocytes. conclusion, light differences their expression, localizations, capacities for bending DNA, these likely play nonredundant roles transcriptional regulation development erythrocytes.