Characterisation of a collagen gene subfamily from the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida.

We have isolated two full-length genomic DNA sequences, which encode the cuticle collagen proteins GP-COL-1 and GP-COL-2, from the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida. A third, partial collagen gene ORF termed gp-col-t(t=truncated) has also been isolated and appears to represent an unexpressed pseudogene. The gp-col-1 and gp-col-2 genes both contain three short (<97 bp) introns which disrupt coding regions predicted to specify proteins with molecular weights of 33 and 32.7 kDa respectively. All three sequences show high similarity to each other and to the previously isolated G. pallida cDNA clone gp-col-8. The conserved pattern of cysteine residues and non-(Gly-X-Y)(n) region sequence similarity observed in all four G. pallida genes suggests that these molecules form part of the same subfamily of collagens. Southern analysis indicates that this subfamily is likely to contain further members. The G. pallida collagen sequences show striking similarity to twelve genes from Caenorhabditis elegans which collectively represent the recently classified Group 1a collagen subfamily. No data exists on the function of this subfamily in C. elegans. gp-col-1 and gp-col-2 are developmentally regulated with transcripts of both genes detected in adult virgin and gravid females but not in pre-parasitic second stage juveniles. A similar expression pattern is observed for the Group 1a collagen lemmi 5 from Meloidogyne incognita perhaps indicating a generic link between subfamily and function during the various changes in cuticular structure which accompany nematode growth and reproduction. Immunochemical studies indicate that the GP-COL-1 protein is specifically located in the hypodermis of G. pallida adult females.