plosone-phylo
pone.0005410.g001
Panel (A): Schematic presentation of a 32 kb contig located on P. falciparum Chromosome 10 (1404403 to 1436403 bp of the 3D7 strain) indicating the relative positions of the MSP3-like ORFs. MSP3.1 and MSP3.2 are genes known to encode merozoite surface proteins MSP3 and MSP6, respectively. Panel (B): ClustalW alignment and Boxshade representation of the amino acid sequences of the MSP3-family of proteins with related C-terminal sequence organization. MSP3.5 and MSP3.6 do not share the C-terminal sequence similarities with other members. Identical residues are indicated by white letters on black backgrounds, whereas similar residues are indicated by black letters on a gray background. Dashes represent gaps to optimize alignments. The pattern shared by MSP3-family members are: the N-terminal signal-peptide (dotted line-box); the signature sequence of the MSP3 family of proteins [1]; the glutamic acid rich region [2]; and the leucine-zipper domain [3]. Sequences highlighted in black are related to regions identified as targets of protective antibodies identified in MSP3.1. Panel (C): A cladogram showing sequence analogy between different MSP3-like ORFs derived by comparing the encoded protein sequences.
pone.0005410.g001
Panel (A): Schematic presentation of a 32 kb contig located on P. falciparum Chromosome 10 (1404403 to 1436403 bp of the 3D7 strain) indicating the relative positions of the MSP3-like ORFs. MSP3.1 and MSP3.2 are genes known to encode merozoite surface proteins MSP3 and MSP6, respectively. Panel (B): ClustalW alignment and Boxshade representation of the amino acid sequences of the MSP3-family of proteins with related C-terminal sequence organization. MSP3.5 and MSP3.6 do not share the C-terminal sequence similarities with other members. Identical residues are indicated by white letters on black backgrounds, whereas similar residues are indicated by black letters on a gray background. Dashes represent gaps to optimize alignments. The pattern shared by MSP3-family members are: the N-terminal signal-peptide (dotted line-box); the signature sequence of the MSP3 family of proteins [1]; the glutamic acid rich region [2]; and the leucine-zipper domain [3]. Sequences highlighted in black are related to regions identified as targets of protective antibodies identified in MSP3.1. Panel (C): A cladogram showing sequence analogy between different MSP3-like ORFs derived by comparing the encoded protein sequences.