Abstract:
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Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), exemplified by cdc2, are key regulators of
the eukaryotic cell cycle [1]. A number of cdc2-related kinase genes have been
isolated from trypanosomatids [2-6]. The present study was designed to identify
and analyze cdc2-related protein kinases (CRKs), investigate their regulation
mechanisms, and thus their role in regulating the cell cycle of the protozoa
Leishmania donovani, the causative agent for Kala-azar and Leishmania
mexicana; the causative agent for New world cutaneous leishmaniasis. To
achieve this aim, CRK3 protein kinase gene was isolated from a Sudanese strain
of L. donovani, designated LdCRK3. It encodes a protein of 311 amino acids
with 99.7 % identity with the L. mexicana CRK3 and 49.4% identity with human
Hscdc2. Southern blot analysis showed that LdCRK3 is single copy, consistent
with the genomic organization of all the so-far identified trypanosomatid protein
kinases. The sequence of L. donovani CRK3 has been deposited in GenBankTM
under the access number AJ426472. |