VAL proteins belong to a diverse superfamily containing the CAP domain, with members described for various eukaryotic organisms, including parasites. They are implicated in diverse biological activities and, as secreted proteins, may be related in host - parasite interactions. For this reason they have been proposed as vaccine candidates against nematode infections. However, little is known about their function in cestodes. In M. corti, four partial cDNA sequences coding for members of the CAP superfamily were previously isolated. In this work we characterize the expression of McVAL2 in the larvae and segmented worms of M. corti, describing mRNA and protein localization using fluorescent microscopy. We also optimized real time PCR analysis for quantification of mRNA expression through the different stages of strobilar development. We show that McVAL2 is differentially located, depending on the developmental stage, and can be used as a molecular marker for the neuroendocrine system in the larvae. The dynamic and stage-specific expression patterns of McVAL2, combined with the large number of VAL proteins found in the genomes of parasitic flatworms, suggest varied roles for the VAL protein family in the biology of these parasites.
Keywords: CAP domain containing proteins; Cestodes; Spatio-temporal expression; Strobilar development.
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