ECHINOCOCCUS-GRANULOSUS - PREPARATION OF PROTEIN EXTRACTS FROM PROTOSCOLEX NUCLEI FOR MOBILITY-SHIFT ASSAYS

Nuclei from Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices were isolated from i nfected sheep. Protein extracts were prepared for analysis of DNA-prot ein interactions involving specific transcriptional regulatory factors . Gel mobility-shift assays were done using a heterologous probe conta ining binding sites for widespread transcription factors. A fragment o f the promoter of GATA-1 transcription factor from the chicken nias se lected. When nuclear extracts from E. granulosus protoscolices were as sayed a specific band shift was observed. The methodologies developed in this study could provide an important contribution for the characte rization of the DNA-protein interactions involved in transcriptional r egulation within the context of recent developments in the molecular b iology of this parasite.