Trypanosoma cruzi: Molecular cloning of a gene coding for a putative vacuolar protein

We describe the characterization of Tc38, a Trypanosoma cruzi gene coding f or a 337-amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 38 kDa, Tc38 presents similarities to the plant storage vacuolar protein gamma-3-hordei n involved in the transport and targeting of prolamins to the vacuole of de veloping barley endosperm. Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antiser um against recombinant Tc38 revealed that the protein is differentially exp ressed in the different life stages of the parasite, showing a higher expre ssion in the epimastigote and tripomastigote stages. Immunofluorescence stu dies suggest that the protein is located in putative vacuolar structures in epimastigotes. The functionality of this protein in I cruzi remains to be elucidated. (C) 2000 Academic Press.