Chromosome size polymorphism inPlasmodium falciparumcan involve deletions of the subtelomeric pPFrep20 sequence

Abstract
The P. falciparum pPFrep20 repetitive element from the Palo Alto Uganda strain ahs been isolated and sequenced. The Palo Alto pPFrep20 repeat (pPFPArep20) has a clustered subtelomeric location and on chromosome 1 has been deleted from one end. Analysis of chromosome 1 from 5 other strains has revealed that pPFrep20 sequences have been deleted form one end in 3 of them. Thus, deletion of pPFrep20 appears to be a frequent event that could significantly contribute to chromosome size polymorphism in P. falciparum.