The LdSSN coding region was found to be enriched in G+C residues (59%) in comparison with A+T residues (41%) like other leishmanial genes. The LdSSN check details gene is considerably conserved and a comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences reveals 97% homology with L. major, 57% with Trypanosoma cruzi, 45% with mouse and 44% with human. The sequence analysis of the encoded LdSSN protein showed the presence of 192 basic amino acids

(K, R, H) and 260 acidic amino acids (D, E, B, N, Q, Z). The predicted isoelectric point (pI) of the protein was 5.73. The two signature sequences of squalene synthase were present at positions 71–75 and 211–215. As shown in clustal w alignment (Fig. 2), all of the conserved residues described to be involved in catalysis (Pandit et al., 2000) are also conserved in the LdSSN such as the aspartate-rich motifs, which are involved in substrate binding (71DTLED and 211DYYED). The crystal structure of human squalene synthase is known. The specific residues that line the pockets (Phe288, Cys289, Pro292, Val179, Leu183, Tyr73, Phe54 and Leu211) are predominantly hydrophobic and completely conserved in all known squalene synthase sequences. Class I isoprenoid biosynthetic enzymes contain

a DDXXD sequence motif that binds the diphosphate moiety of the substrates via Mg2+ ions, facilitating phosphate release. Structural superposition of human SSN on farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS) shows that the two conserved selleck chemicals llc DDXXD sequence motifs in FPS (Asp117–Asp121 and Asp257–Asp261) overlap with two conserved aspartate-rich sequences, 80DTLED84 and 219DYLED223, in SSN. Phylogenetic relationship of LdSSN with squalene synthases of other organisms showed that SSN is conserved in prokaryotes as well as in eukaryotes throughout the path of evolution. Squalene synthases can be divided into two groups on the basis of evolution, i.e. prokaryotic SSN and eukaryotic SSN (Fig. 1b). Squalene

synthase of L. major and L. donovani are very close to each other. The SSN of trypanosomatids Tyrosine-protein kinase BLK is closer to prokaryotic SSN and mammalian SSN than the plant SSN. Escherichia coli is devoid of squalene synthase enzyme (Inoue et al., 1995). Recombinant plasmid pET-28 (a)-LdSSN was introduced in various E. coli strains such as Rosetta, Codon plus, BL21(DE3) and Tuner, but it was observed that recombinant LdSSN expressed mostly as inclusion bodies. Because one of the goals of the present work was to confirm the correct assignment to the gene encoding LdSSN, efforts were made to express recombinant L. donovani SSN in its soluble, active form avoiding unfolding and refolding protocols because they do not always result in greater yields of biologically active proteins. Several Leishmania proteins are reported to be insoluble in nature and tend to form inclusion bodies upon expression in prokaryotic hosts, for example, methionine adenosyl transferase (MAT 2) of L. donovani (Perez-Pertejo et al.