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An EF-handed Ca2+-binding protein of Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis

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Abstract

A cDNA clone encoding 8 kDa protein was retrieved from an EST pool of Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis. A deduced polypeptide of the cDNA clone was similar to 8 kDa Ca2+-binding proteins from other parasitic trematodes, and, thus, named as CsCa8, containing two EF-hand Ca2+-binding sites. Homology models predicted CsCa8 to be a single globular structure having four helices and molecular folds similar to Ca2+-binding state of other small Ca2+-binding proteins. Recombinant CsCa8 protein showed specific Ca2+-binding affinity and shifting in native gel mobility assay. Mouse immune sera raised against recombinant CsCa8 protein recognized native CsCa8 from adult C. sinensis worm extract. CsCa8 was localized in oral and ventral suckers, vitelline follicles and subtegumental tissues. These findings suggest that CsCa8 might be involved in cellular Ca2+ signal transduction for muscle contraction and egg production.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Medical Biology and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea

    Eun Joo Chung, Tae Yun Kim & Tai-Soon Yong

  2. Department of Medical Environmental Biology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 156-756, South Korea

    Sung-Jong Hong

Authors
  1. Eun Joo Chung
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  2. Tae Yun Kim
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  3. Sung-Jong Hong
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  4. Tai-Soon Yong
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Correspondence to Tai-Soon Yong.

Additional information

E.J Chung and T.Y. Kim contributed equally to this work

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Chung, E.J., Kim, T.Y., Hong, SJ. et al. An EF-handed Ca2+-binding protein of Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis . Parasitol Res 112, 4121–4128 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3603-0

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