Heterogeneity of the genes encoding the major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania donovani.

The major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania (GP63) is present on all known species of Leishmania and likely plays an integral role during the infection of macrophages in the mammalian host. To identify regions of GP63 which may be of functional significance, the nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding GP63 of Leishmania donovani was determined and compared to the sequences reported for GP63 genes of Leishmania major and Leishmania chagasi. The GP63 nucleotide and predicted protein sequence was highly conserved among the 3 species despite their diverse geographical distribution. L. donovani GP63 is encoded by a multigene family and the gene locus contains at least 7 tandemly repeated genes and at least 3 genes which are dispersed from the tandem array. In addition, polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analyses demonstrated that there was size heterogeneity within the pro-peptide coding regions of the multiple GP63 genes of L. donovani and that such genes were expressed concurrently in the promastigote life stage.