To begin to characterize the components of the 20S proteasome of Giardia la
mblia, we have cloned a genomic sequence encoding an alpha -chain (type alp
ha3/C9, predicted size 244 amino acid residues). Southern analysis indicate
d that a single gene codes for this protein, and a Northern blot exhibited
a single signal at 850 nt. An antiserum against a C-terminal fragment of th
e alpha -chain expressed in Escherichia coli reacted with a single protein
band of M-r 27,000 that was present at constant levels in trophozoites and
encysting cells. On a 2D blot of the purified 20S proteasome, we identified
the crossreacting component as a single protein of IEP 6.0, in agreement w
ith the IEP predicted by the coding sequence. Our data confirm that the G.
lamblia 20S proteasome is typically eukaryotic in containing a set of diver
ged alpha -subunits.