HOMOLOGS OF THE 24-KDA FLAGELLAR CA2-BINDING PROTEIN GENE OF TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI ARE PRESENT IN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TRYPANOSOMATIDAE FAMILY()

A full-length cDNA encoding the 24-kDa flagellar Ca2+-binding protein (FCaBP) of the Dm28e clone of Trypanosoma cruzi was cloned and charact erized. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with those of th e FCaBP, of other T. cruzi strains revealed greater than 97% sequence conservation. FCaBP-like genes are found in Trypanosoma conorhini, Try panosoma freitasi, Trypanosoma lewisi, Herpetomonas megaseliae, Leptom onas seymouri, and Phytomonas serpens, but not in Crithidia deanei, Le ishmania amazonensis. or Endotrypanum schaudinni. Among various T. cru zi strains, FCaBP genes are located on chromosomes of different sire, although all strains possess multiple FCaBP genes organized as tandeml y arranged gene families. Northern and Western blot analyses revealed that FCaBP mRNAs are produced in all organisms possessing FCaBP-hybrid izing sequences, indicating that expression of FCaBP or an FCaBP-like protein is common to a number of trypanosomatid species. (C) 1997 Acad emic Press.