Cloning and Analysis of cDNA Encoding an Elongation Factor 1 α from the Dimorphic Fungus Histoplasma capsulatum

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-8-1995

Department

Biological Sciences

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

The cDNA encoding translation elongation factor 1 α (EF-lα) was isolated from the dimorphic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc), an important pathogen of man. A cDNA library was probed with the tefl gene from the fungus Mucor racemosus. Ten independent clones were isolated, all with similar restriction patterns. The longest clone (1.96 kb) was sequenced. Southern blot analysis revealed that the Hc tefl gene was present as a single copy. A single transcript of approx. 2300 nucleotides was found in total RNA from both the yeast and mold forms of the organism. Comparison of the deduced 460-amino-acid Hc EF-1α protein to EF-1 α proteins from other species of fungi revealed the greatest degree of similarity to proteins from the filamentous ascomycetes Podospora anserina and Trichoderma reesei. Phylogenetic tree analysis of fungal tef genes indicated that Hc is most closely related to filamentous ascomycetes and most distantly related to the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Publication Title

Gene

Volume

161

Issue

1

First Page

119

Last Page

123

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