Calreticulin (CRT) is a calcium-binding protein and has many functions in eukaryotic cells. CRT is possibly involved in parasite host immune system evasion. To better understand the molecular basis of CRT in ticks, we cloned and sequenced 4 full-length complementary DNAs (cDNAs) from the hard tick species, Dermacentor variabilis, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes scapularis, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, using the technique of rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The deduced amino acid sequences share high identities (between 77 and 98%) with 3 known tick CRT sequences. The major characteristics of known CRTs are observed in all 4 of our deduced tick CRTs. These include 3 major domains, a signal peptide sequence at the beginning of the coding region, 2 triplets of conserved regions, cysteine sites providing disulfide bridges for N-terminal folding, and a nuclear localization signal. Remarkably, the replacement of the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal KDEL by HEEL, which is believed to be associated with secretion of CRT into the host during feeding and was previously recorded only in 2 ticks and a hookworm, is also present in all 4 of our tick putative CRTs. In addition, the CRT gene is potentially useful for tick phylogenetic reconstruction.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
February 2004
GENETICS-EVOLUTION|
February 01 2004
CLONING AND SEQUENCING OF PUTATIVE CALRETICULIN COMPLEMENTARY DNAs FROM FOUR HARD TICK SPECIES Available to Purchase
Guang Xu;
Guang Xu
Department of Biology and Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8042. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Quentin Q. Fang;
Quentin Q. Fang
Department of Biology and Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8042. [email protected]
* To whom correspondence should be addressed
Search for other works by this author on:
James E. Keirans;
James E. Keirans
Department of Biology and Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8042. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Lance A. Durden
Lance A. Durden
Department of Biology and Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8042. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
J Parasitol (2004) 90 (1): 73–78.
Citation
Guang Xu, Quentin Q. Fang, James E. Keirans, Lance A. Durden; CLONING AND SEQUENCING OF PUTATIVE CALRETICULIN COMPLEMENTARY DNAs FROM FOUR HARD TICK SPECIES. J Parasitol 1 February 2004; 90 (1): 73–78. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-157R
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCiting articles via
A NEW SPECIES OF HALIPEGUS (TREMATODA: DEROGENIDAE: HALIPEGINAE) IN LITHOBATES SPECTABILIS (ANURA: RANIDAE) FROM RESERVA DE LA BIOSFERA BARRANCA DE METZTITLAN, HIDALGO, MEXICO
Edgar S. Ramírez-Cruz, Griselda Pulido-Flores, Scott Monks, Elizabeth A. Martínez-Salazar
A SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF KROYERIA (COPEPODA: SIPHONOSTOMATOIDA): FIVE NEW SPECIES, 11 REDESCRIPTIONS, AND A MORPHOLOGICAL PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE GENUS
Gregory B. Deets, Geoffrey A. Boxshall, James P. Bernot
MOLECULAR SURVEY OF HAEMOSPORIDIAN PARASITES IN HAWKS, FALCONS, AND OWLS (ACCIPITRIFORMES, FALCONIFORMES, STRIGIFORMES) FROM MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA, WITH REMARKS ON THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF HAEMOSPORIDIANS IN NORTH AMERICAN RAPTORS
Jeffrey A. Bell, Timothy G. Driscoll, Tyler J. Achatz, Jakson R. Martens, Jefferson A. Vaughan
TWO NEW SPECIES OF HENNEGUYA THÉLOHAN, 1892 (CNIDARIA: BIVALVULIDA: MYXOBOLIDAE) INFECTING GILL OF BLUE CATFISH, ICTALURUS FURCATUS (RAFINESQUE) (SILURIFORMES: ICTALURIDAE) FROM THE TALLAPOOSA RIVER AND CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIBUTARIES
Steven P. Ksepka, Heather Walsh, Christine L. Densmore, Triet N. Truong, Stephen A. Bullard