Nucleic Acids Research, 2002, Vol. 30, No. 10 2224-2231
© 2002 Oxford University Press
Transcripts of developmentally regulated Plasmodium falciparum genes quantified by real-time RT–PCR
Department of Biological Sciences, PO Box 369, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA, 1Malaria Program, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA and 2Department of Immunology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development is a complex process. Development proceeds rapidly from the trophozoite phase of nutrient acquisition and growth through to the synthetic and reproductive schizont phase, which ends with production of new invasive merozoites. During this process, the malaria parasite must express a series of different gene products, depending on its metabolic and synthetic needs. We are particularly interested in the development of the merozoite’s organelles in the apical complex, which form during the later schizont stages. We have used quantitative real-time RT–PCR fluorogenic 5' nuclease assays (TaqMan®) for the first time on malaria parasites for analysis of erythrocytic stage-specific gene expression. We analyzed transcripts of the P.falciparum eba-175 and other erythrocyte binding-like (eb l) family genes in temperature-synchronized parasites and found ebl genes have tightly controlled, stage-specific transcription. As expected, eba-175 transcripts were abundant only at the end of schizont development in a pattern most common among ebl, including baebl, pebl and jesebl. The maebl transcript pattern was unique, peaking at mid-late trophozoite stage, but absent in late-stage schizonts. ebl-1 demonstrated another pattern of expression, which peaked during mid-schizont stage and then significantly diminished in late-stage schizonts. Our analysis demonstrates that using real-time RT–PCR fluorogenic 5' nuclease assays is a sensitive, quantitative method for analysis of Plasmodium transcripts.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 574 631 8676; Fax: +1 574 631 7413; Email: adams.20{at}nd.edu +AF461093–AF461098, AY090552
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