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Infection and Immunity, December 2002, p. 6976-6986, Vol. 70, No. 12
0019-9567/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.70.12.6976-6986.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Expression of a Novel Leishmania Gene Encoding a Histone H1-Like Protein in Leishmania major Modulates Parasite Infectivity In Vitro

Fotini T. Papageorgiou and Ketty P. Soteriadou*

Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece

Received 22 February 2002/ Returned for modification 9 April 2002/ Accepted 22 August 2002

We describe identification and characterization of a novel two-copy gene of the parasitic protozoan Leishmania that encodes a nuclear protein designated LNP18. This protein is highly conserved in the genus Leishmania, and it is developmentally regulated. It is an alanine- and lysine-rich protein with potential bipartite nuclear targeting sequence sites. LNP18 shows sequence similarity to H1 histones of trypanosomatids and of higher eukaryotes and in particular with histone H1 of Leishmania major. The nuclear localization of LNP18 was determined by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis of isolated nuclei by using antibodies raised against the recombinant protein as probes. The antibodies recognized predominantly a 18-kDa band or a 18-kDa-16-kDa doublet. Photochemical cross-linking of intact parasites followed by Western blot analysis provided evidence that LNP18 is indeed a DNA-binding protein. Generation of transfectants overexpressing LNP18 allowed us to determine the role of this protein in Leishmania infection of macrophages in vitro. These studies revealed that transfectants overexpressing LNP18 are significantly less infective than transfectants with the vector alone and suggested that the level of LNP18 expression modulates Leishmania infectivity, as assessed in vitro.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sophias, 115 21 Athens, Greece. Phone: 30-(0)106478841. Fax: 30-(0)106423498. E-mail: ksoteriadou{at}mail.pasteur.gr.

Editor: J. M. Mansfield

Infection and Immunity, December 2002, p. 6976-6986, Vol. 70, No. 12
0019-9567/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.70.12.6976-6986.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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