1. Novel putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored micronemal antigen of Plasmodium falciparum that binds to erythrocytes.
- Author
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Hinds L, Green JL, Knuepfer E, Grainger M, and Holder AA
- Subjects
- Animals, Antigens, Protozoan chemistry, Cell Membrane metabolism, Cell Polarity, Cells, Cultured, Erythrocytes cytology, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Glycosylphosphatidylinositols chemistry, Humans, Life Cycle Stages, Merozoites cytology, Merozoites metabolism, Parasites cytology, Parasites metabolism, Peptides metabolism, Plasmodium falciparum cytology, Plasmodium falciparum growth & development, Plasmodium falciparum metabolism, Protein Processing, Post-Translational, Schizonts cytology, Schizonts metabolism, Subcellular Fractions metabolism, Antigens, Protozoan metabolism, Erythrocytes metabolism, Erythrocytes parasitology, Glycosylphosphatidylinositols metabolism, Plasmodium falciparum immunology
- Abstract
We have identified a new Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte binding protein that appears to be located in the micronemes of the merozoite stage of the parasite and membrane linked through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. The protein is designated GPI-anchored micronemal antigen (GAMA) and was identified by applying a set of selection criteria to identify previously uncharacterized merozoite proteins that may have a role in cell invasion. The protein is also present in the proteomes of the sporozoite and ookinete micronemes and is conserved throughout the genus. GAMA contains a novel domain that may be constrained by disulfide bonds and a predicted C-terminal hydrophobic sequence that is presumably replaced by the GPI. The protein is synthesized late during schizogony, processed into two fragments that are linked by a disulfide bond, and translocated to an apical location, which is probably the micronemes. In a proportion of free merozoites GAMA can also be detected on the parasite surface. Following erythrocyte invasion the bulk of the protein is shed in a soluble form, although a short C-terminal fragment may be carried into the newly invaded red blood cell. The protein was shown to bind reversibly to erythrocytes and therefore represents a new example of a host cell binding protein.
- Published
- 2009
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