Full Length Research Paper

Cloning and expression of Theileria parva T-complex 1 protein zeta subunit ortholog

Nyerhovwo J. Tonukari¹* and Richard T. Kangethe²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Delta State University, PMB 1, Abraka, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: tonukari@gmail.com .

Accepted 2 September, 2009

   Abstract

East coast fever (ECF) is a severe lymphoproliferative disease of cattle caused by the intracellular protozoan Theileria parva from the family Apicomplexa. Gene homologs encoding antigens from other apicomplexan parasites constitute a source of vaccine candidate antigens. An ortholog of the zeta subunit of T-complex protein 1 (TCP-1) which plays a role in protein folding, assembly and transport was identified within the Theileria parva genome. The deduced amino acid sequence of the T. parva ortholog has a 55% identity and 77% similarity to the same protein in a number of eukaryotes such as Danio rerio (zebra fish) and man. The identity of this protein within its own family (Apicomplexa) is slightly higher. The T. parva TCP-1 zeta subunit gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was characterized.

Key words: T-complex protein, Theileria parva, apicomplexa, antigen.