Figure 1. Two histone modifiers unique to primate parasites.

A comparative screen of the genomes of primate and rodent malaria parasites identified two histone modifiers unique to P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. knowlesi, SET2 and JmjC1. (A) Domain searches of the amino acid sequences using SMART (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool, http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de) identified several domains typical of chromatin modifying enzymes, including several PHD domains and a SET2-like methyltransferase domain in PfSET2 and a predicted JmjC type demethylase in PfJmjC1. (B) Syntenic regions of chromosomes 13 and 8 of three primate parasites and three rodent parasites. Extensive synteny is observed throughout these chromosomal regions, with the exception of SET2 and JmjC1, which are missing from the genomes of the rodent parasites. The flanking genes are highly conserved. Figure adapted from Plasmodb.org.