Recent genomic sequencing of Cryptosporidium muris revealed a phosphagen kinase (PK) homolog. C. muris is a protozoan parasite and the only Cryptosporidium species with a PK, suggesting the gene was acquired via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Initial sequence alignments suggest that the gene is a creatine kinase (CK). The protein was overexpressed in E. coli and purified to fully characterize its activity and determine its substrate preference since C. muris does not appear to have a creatine biosynthetic pathway. 31P-NMR was used to detect phosphoryl group transfers between the different phosphagen substrates and ATP and the putative CK. Once substrate specificity was determined isothermal titration calorimetry was performed to obtain kinetic constants. Characterization of the putative C. muris CK will help determine if the gene has evolved since the gene transfer event and whether it has retained CK activity. This research may also have medical implications for treating parasitic diseases.

Characterization of a phosphagen kinase homolog from the protozoan parasite <i>Cryptosporidium muris</i>

245th National Meeting (2013)

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Characterization of a phosphagen kinase homolog from the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium muris