TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR GENES FROM RAT PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII

Genes encoding the TFIID TATA-box binding protein (TBP) from two proba ble species of rat Pneumocystis carinii (prototype and variant) were s equenced. The two P. carinii TBP gene sequences were 91% identical to each other, and 65-77% identical to TBP genes from other species. A cD NA from one of the two P. carinii TBP genes was sequenced, which showe d that four small introns resided in identical positions within the TB P genes from the prototype and variant rat P. carinii. Conservation of the 180 amino acids that constitute the conserved core of TBP was 97% between the P. carinii TBP, which were 95% and 97% identical to conse rved core sequences of TBP from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosac charomyces pombe respectively.