DegP is subjected to proteolytic maturation.

<p>(A) Western blot analysis of RHΔ<i>Ku80</i> lysate with anti-DegP serum reveals a complex profile. The specificity of the bands was assessed using KO-<i>DegP</i>^<i>I</i> parasite lysate. Two major bands are observed around 60 kDa and 40 kDa respectively and are indicated by black arrows. Molecular weights are indicated. Anti-SAG1 antibody was used as loading control. (B) Western blots analysis of RH strain expressing an ecto-copy of DegP fused to a Ty tag at the C-terminal end. Right panel: anti-DegP antibodies. Left panel: anti-Ty antibodies. An additional band around 60 kDa with a slight shift is visible by staining the RH strain expressing DegP-Ty with anti-DegP antibodies (see arrow on enlarged panel on the right). (C) Western blot profiles of DegP under reduced conditions using anti-DegP* (426–726) serum. Anti-DegP* reveals only the 60kDa band. (D) Exogenous expression of <i>Tg</i>DegP in mammalian cells. Western blot analysis of BHK-21 cells transfected with the cDNA of DegP under the control of promotor EF-1α. Lane 1 correspond to <i>T</i>. <i>gondii</i> lysate; lane 2 was control BHK-21 cells transfected with empty plasmid pTRACER-A, lane 3 was lysate of BHK-21 cells transfected with 1μg of plasmid p<i>DegP</i>-V5 and lane 4 was lysate of BHK-21 cells transfected with 2 μg of plasmid p<i>DegP</i>-V5. The profile of <i>Tg</i>DegP expressed in mammalian cells is restricted to a unique form corresponding to the full-length protein.