An Initial Characterization of the 3′ Untranslated Region of the EhPgp5 mRNA in Entamoeba histolytica

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In Entamoeba histolytica , the multidrug resistance phenotype (MDR) is given by the overexpression of the EhPgp1 and EhPgp5 genes. Transcriptional regulation plays an important role in the mechanisms underlying the expression of these genes (1). However, the relevance of postranscriptional events has not yet been explored. In cultured rat hepatocytes, Pgp2 gene overexpression is primarily due to postranscriptional mechanisms, in which changes in mRNA stability appear to be critical (2). In addition, in rat liver tumors the overexpression of the Pgp1 , Pgp2 , and Pgp3 genes seems to be caused by a mechanism involving mRNA stabilization (3). The 3 9 untranslated region (3 9 UTR) sequence affects mRNA stability and its polyadenylation and translation, nuclear export, and efficiency processing. Changes in rates of turnover and RNA cleavage are affected by the formation of 3 9 UTR secondary structure motifs and by proteins binding to these structures. Postranscriptional events of E. histolytica EhPgp genes may be also regulated by RNA structure. As an initial step to study the postranscriptional mechanisms involved in EhPgp5 gene expression, we analyze here the relevant sequence features and the secondary structure of the 3 9 UTR of EhPgp5 mRNA.