Cloning and expression of the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase from Leishmania donovani

Thomas E. Allen, Ho Yon Hwang, Armando Jardim, Robert Olafson, Buddy Ullman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

The gene encoding the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) enzyme from Leishmania donovani has been cloned and sequenced. The hgprt open reading frame encoded a polypeptide of 211 amino acids that exhibited 3 regions of significant homology with other eukaryotic HGPRTs and a C-terminal tripeptide compatible with a glycosomal targeting signal. Northern blot analysis of L. donovani RNA revealed two hgprt transcripts, a 1.9-kb mRNA and a 1.7-kb transcript. The expression of the 1.7-kb hgprt mRNA and the activity of HGPRT enzyme were both augmented approx. 5-fold in parasites incubated in the absence of purines. Southern blots of genomic DNA indicated only a single hgprt locus within the L. donovani genome. Overexpression of L. donovani hgprt in E. coli complemented genetic deficiencies in hypoxanthine and guanine phosphoribosylating activities and yielded abundant quantities of enzymatically active HGPRT. The recombinant HGPRT was purified to homogeneity and recognized hypoxanthine, guanine and allopurinol, but not adenine or xanthine, as substrates. The hgprt clone and pure HGPRT protein provide essential reagents for validating HGPRT as a therapeutic target for the treatment of leishmaniasis and other diseases of parasitic origin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)133-143
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular and Biochemical Parasitology
Volume73
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1995

Keywords

  • Drug development
  • Expression
  • Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase
  • Leishmania
  • Molecular cloning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

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