KARYOTYPE MAPPING OF Leishmania
Contact:
Patrick Bastien/Patrick Wincker, Lab. de Parasitologie, 163 rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34000 Montpellier, France. Email : gpp@sc.univ-montp1.fr
Pulsed field gel (PFG) electrophoresis can be used to generate a molecular karyotype for the various Leishmania species. Typically, the genome of Leishmania comprises approximately 25 visible chromosomal bands, with a total haploid genome s
ize of 35 Mb.
In 1995, six physical linkage groups had been described for the smallest chromosomes of Leishmania infantum [Ravel et al., 1995: Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 69:1-8]. Importantly, these physical linkage groups exh
ibited conservation among the 'Old World' species of Leishmania, suggesting that overall chromosomal structure and gene order might have been maintained despite speciation.
This significant observation was further extended in a 1996 study using
244 probe loci, of which 66 were ESTs [Wincker et al., 1996: Nuc. Ac. Res. 24:1688-1694]. Thirty six physical linkage groups, hence 36 chromosomes, were thus assigned on the basis of the clustering of DNA markers. The clustering of
markers, conserved across several Old World species of Leishmania, vindicates the use of a single species of Leishmania as a working model of the genus.
For Leishmania infantum, the chromosome karyotype map is complete. Comparati
ve mapping between a number of Old and New World species is being undertaken in the Montpellier laboratory. The Leishmania Genome Network is transferring the Leishmania infantum karyotype to Leishmania major Friedlin.
Show me:
Scanned pictures of PFG-separated Leishmania chromosomes
A black and white idiogram of Leishmania chromosomes
A colour idiogram of Leishmania chromosomes
The current status of mapped EST markers on Leishmania major Friedlin chromosomes
INDEX of all Leishmania Genome Network WWW pages
LGN HOME PAGE
Last modified: 13 JAN 1997