Comparative analysis at the nucleotide level of the genes encoding the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum
Akbulut, E.; Celık, V.; Balik, D.T.
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi 29(3): 149-153
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1300-6320 PMID: 17160810 Document Number: 589697
In this study, the nucleotide sequence of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase from Plasmodium vivax has been compared to the same enzyme from another malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. It was found that the identity between two sequences was 74.8%. The percentage of the GC value was found to be higher in the Plasmodium vivax lactate dehydrogenase (46.6%) than in that of Plasmodium falciparum (33%). The nucleotide sequence that corresponds to the 5 amino acid insertion in Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase is also present in Plasmodium vivax. This site will be targeted in the design of novel antimalarials for Plasmodium vivax as has been for Plasmodium falciparum.