       Document 0880
 DOCN  M9480880
 TI    Conserved sequence homology of cysteine rich regions in genes encoding
       glycoprotein A in Pneumocystis carinii derived from different host
       species.
 DT    9410
 AU    Wright T; Haidaris P; Gigliotti F; Harmsen A; Haidaris C; University of
       Rochester, NY.
 SO    Abstr Gen Meet Am Soc Microbiol. 1994;94:141 (abstract no. D-253).
       Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASM94/94313065
 AB    Pneumocystis carinii (Pc) surface glycoprotein A (gpA) exhibits
       host-species specific phenotypic and genotypic variation. Despite this
       heterogeneity, the gpAs of Pc isolated from different host species
       appear to be homologous molecules sharing certain biochemical and
       antigenic characteristics. Using two degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotide
       primers corresponding to conserved Cys regions from ferret and rat Pc
       gpA, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of approximately 300 bp
       was amplified from ferret, rat, and SCID mouse Pc-infected lung genomic
       DNA. Northern hybridization revealed a transcript of 3450 nucleotides in
       Pc-infected SCID mouse lung mRNA, which is similar in size to the
       transcripts for ferret and rat Pc gpA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of
       SCID mouse P. carinii gpA subclones derived from the PCR products
       identified two isoforms, which were 89% identical to each other in the
       amplified region, and 73% and 54% identical to the rat and ferret
       derived Pc gpA genes, respectively. Comparison of the deduced amino acid
       sequences of mouse, ferret and rat Pc gpAs revealed striking similarity
       in residues adjacent to and including the conserved Cys. Furthermore,
       the spacing of two Pro residues is invariant, and a potential N-linked
       glycosylation site is found at a similar position in all of the gpAs.
       Despite the heterogeneity observed in Pc gpA, the conservation of Cys
       residues and adjacent sequences implies similar secondary structure and,
       therefore, function for the gpAs of Pc isolated from different host
       species.
 DE    Animal  Base Sequence  Blotting, Northern  Comparative Study  *Conserved
       Sequence  Cysteine  Ferrets  Fungal Proteins/BIOSYNTHESIS/*GENETICS
       *Genes, Fungal  Lung/MICROBIOLOGY  Membrane
       Glycoproteins/BIOSYNTHESIS/*GENETICS  Mice  Mice, SCID  Pneumocystis
       carinii/*GENETICS/ISOLATION & PURIF  Polymerase Chain Reaction/METHODS
       Proline  Rats  RNA, Messenger/BIOSYNTHESIS  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

