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Characterization of multiple unique cDNAs encoding the major surface glycoprotein of rat-derivedPneumocystis carinii

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Abstract

The major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of rat-derivedPneumocystis carinii represents a group of related molecules that are encoded by multiple genes. We isolated seven unique MSG cDNAs from a library prepared from a single infected rat lung. The cDNAs displayed both conserved and variant regions to previously described cDNAs. These clones contained inserts that ranged in size from 0.4 to 1.8 kb and all contained a poly(A) tail. The largest clone, Pc1410, hybridized to all 15 chromosomes resolved by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Protein produced by in vitro translation from Pc1410 was immunoprecipitated with affinity-purified MSG antibodies. The clones were characterized by DNA sequencing of their 3′ and 5′ ends. Analysis of the untranslated and coding regions demonstrated that the clones contained unique and conserved regions of sequence, but none of the clones were identical. Isolation of seven additional unique clones picked from a single screening of a cDNA library suggests that numerous MSG transcripts exist within a population ofP. carinii.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    M. J. Linke, A. G. Smulian & P. D. Walzer

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    M. J. Linke, A. G. Smulian & P. D. Walzer

  3. Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnan, OH, USA

    J. R. Stringer

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  1. M. J. Linke
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  2. A. G. Smulian
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  3. J. R. Stringer
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  4. P. D. Walzer
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Linke, M.J., Smulian, A.G., Stringer, J.R. et al. Characterization of multiple unique cDNAs encoding the major surface glycoprotein of rat-derivedPneumocystis carinii . Parasitol Res 80, 478–486 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932694

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932694

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