Back to Search
Start Over
Atomic resolution insight into host cell recognition by Toxoplasma gondii.
- Source :
-
The EMBO journal [EMBO J] 2007 Jun 06; Vol. 26 (11), pp. 2808-20. Date of Electronic Publication: 2007 May 10. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a member of the phylum Apicomplexa that includes Plasmodium spp., is one of the most widespread parasites and the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. Micronemal proteins (MICs) are released onto the parasite surface just before invasion of host cells and play important roles in host cell recognition, attachment and penetration. Here, we report the atomic structure for a key MIC, TgMIC1, and reveal a novel cell-binding motif called the microneme adhesive repeat (MAR). Using glycoarray analyses, we identified a novel interaction with sialylated oligosaccharides that resolves several prevailing misconceptions concerning TgMIC1. Structural studies of various complexes between TgMIC1 and sialylated oligosaccharides provide high-resolution insights into the recognition of sialylated oligosaccharides by a parasite surface protein. We observe that MAR domains exist in tandem repeats, which provide a highly specialized structure for glycan discrimination. Our work uncovers new features of parasite-receptor interactions at the early stages of host cell invasion, which will assist the design of new therapeutic strategies.
- Subjects :
- Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Crystallization
DNA Primers genetics
Host-Parasite Interactions
Molecular Sequence Data
Neuraminidase
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
Protein Array Analysis
Protein Structure, Tertiary genetics
Cell Adhesion Molecules genetics
Cell Adhesion Molecules metabolism
Models, Molecular
Protozoan Proteins genetics
Protozoan Proteins metabolism
Toxoplasma genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0261-4189
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The EMBO journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17491595
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.emboj.7601704