EXPRESSION OF NF-Y NUCLEAR FACTOR IN SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI

The A subunit of NF-Y nuclear factor from Schistosoma mansoni was expr essed in E. coli fused to a histidine tag and purified by affinity chr omatography using a Ni2+-Agarose matrix. Antibodies against the recomb inant protein were prepared and used for Western blot and immunolocali zation. The presence of SMNF-YA in all stages of the parasite life-cyc le was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The immunolocal ization of SMNF-YA showed the presence of this factor in a parenchymal cell population of cercariae and adult worms and in embryos within eg gs. The expression of SMNF-YA was demonstrated to decrease in maturati ng spermatozoites whereas an accumulation of this factor was observed in the nucleus from oocytes during their maturation processes.