|
Plasmodium falciparum
multidrug resistance protein (MRP) gene expression under
chloroquine and mefloquine challenge
Fátima Nogueira*, Dinora Lopes, Ana
Catarina Alves and Virgílio Estólio do Rosário
Centro de Malária e Outras
Doenças Tropicais/IHMT/UEI Malária, Rua da Junqueira 96,
1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
fnogueira@ihmt.unl.pt.
Accepted 3
January 2007 |
|
The present investigation was
carried out to identify and study the gene expression
patterns of two novel Plasmodium falciparum Multidrug
Resistance associated Protein (MRP) transporters belonging
to the ABC protein family coded by the genes pfmrp1
and pfmrp2 in P. falciparum. Full sequencing
resulted in the identification of four SNPs in pfmrp1 and
eight SNPs and three insertions/deletions in pfmrp2.
Both genes showed different patterns of expression along the
intraerythrocytic cycle, pfmrp1 peaks at the late
trophozoites/early schizont stage, while pfmrp2 is
transcribed, mostly during the ring stage and peaks again
towards the end of the cycle, suggesting different parasite
physiological functions. Higher levels of pfmrp1 and
pfmrp2 gene expression were observed in chloroquine
and mefloquine treated cultures, more visible with
mefloquine. These results suggest a possible involvement of
pfmrp1 and pfmrp2 genes in P. falciparum
drug response.
Key words: Efflux pumps,
drug resistance, gene expression, MRP, Plasmodium falciparum,
polymorphism.
|
