Blastocystis elongation factor-1α:: genomic organization, taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships

The elongation factor-1 alpha (eF-1 alpha) is a highly conserved ubiquitous protein that is involved in translation and is desirable fur use in phylogenetic studies on Blastocystis, an enigmatic intestinal parasite with a contentious taxonomic position. In the result study, a PCR product (BE alpha) that codes for a major part of the coding region of the EF-1 alpha protein was amplified. Genome walking experiments together with cloning were implemented to elucidate the 5' and 3' ends of the EF-1 alpha, gene of the human isolate, Blastocystis hominis C. The genomic organization and the potential transcription factor binding sites of the 5' end of B. hominis C EF-1 alpha were identified. A comparative study on the deduced amino acid sequences of BE alpha of 13 Blastocystis isolates from various hosts was done to evaluate the phylogenetic relationship among the species dagger. A phylogenetic reconstruction analysis with other eukaryotic EF-1 alpha sequences was carried out to trace the phylogenetic position of Blastocystis among eukaryotic organisms.