A PHOSPHOGLYCERATE KINASE-RELATED GENE CONSERVED BETWEEN TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI AND CRITHIDIA-FASCICULATA

Trypanosoma brucei and Crithidia fasciculata both contain three different phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) genes, A, B and C, in a tandem array [1,2]. The genes B and C encode the major PGKs: the cytosolic and glycosomal PGKs, respectively. The PGK-A genes of both Trypanosomatid species encode open reading frames related to PGK, which have most active site residues conserved, but contain an insert of 80 amino acids at approximately position 80 of the 420 amino acids average PGK sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence of these inserts is conserved between T. brucei and C. fasciculata (48% positional identity), indicating its functional importance. Although we have not been able to demonstrate PGK activity in the PGK-A gene product, we consider it likely that this gene codes for a minor PGK with special function.