RNA helicase-related genes of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium cynomolgi

RNA helicases play many essential roles including cell development and grow th. Using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed to amplify DNA fragme nts flanked by the highly conserved helicase motifs VLDEAD and YIHRIG; and genomic DNAs from the malarial parasites as a template, we have cloned two putative RNA helicase genes (546 and 540 bp) from P. falciparum and one gen e (546 bp) from P. cynomologi. Southern blot analysis revealed that these c ould be multiple and single-copy genes in P. falciparum and P. cynomolgi, r espectively. Several members of the RNA helicase gene family share sequence identity with malarial parasite's helicases ranging from 30 to 76%, sugges ting that they are functionally related. The discovery of such a multitude of putative RNA helicase genes in malarial parasites suggested that RNA hel icase activities may be involved in many essential biological processes. Fu rther characterization of these helicases may also help in designing parasi te-specific inhibitors/drugs which specifically inhibit the parasite's grow th without affecting the host. (C) 1999 Academic Press.