Cloning of Schistosoma japonicum 14-3-3 epsilon (Sj14-3-3 epsilon), a new member of the 14-3-3 family of proteins from schistosomes

A new member of the 14-3-3 protein family from Schistosoma japonicum has be en identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this member belongs to the epsilon subfamily of the 14-3-3 proteins, and it is therefore named Sj14-3 -3 epsilon. Consistent with the findings for the previously reported S.japo nicum 14-3-3 protein (Sj 14-3-3), Southern analysis suggested the presence of more than one gene, and/or introns or allelic polymorphism in this epsil on isoform. By RT-PCR, Sj14-3-3 epsilon was shown to be stage-specifically transcribed, being abundant in adults, present in sporocysts but absent in cercariae. Furthermore, mRNA of the epsilon isoform seemed to be much less abundant in the sporocyst stage, compared with Sj14-3-3. This suggests vary ing requirements of the different 14-3-3 isoforms at different stages of th e life cycle. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. on behalf of the Australian Society for Parasitology Inc.