Biomaterial Database

Characterisation of complexes formed by parasite proteins exported into the host cell compartment of Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells. 2021

Thorey K Jonsdottir, and Natalie A Counihan, and Joyanta K Modak, and Betty Kouskousis, and Paul R Sanders, and Mikha Gabriela, and Hayley E Bullen, and Brendan S Crabb, and Tania F de Koning-Ward, and Paul R Gilson

Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

During its intraerythrocytic life cycle, the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum supplements its nutritional requirements by scavenging substrates from the plasma through the new permeability pathways (NPPs) installed in the red blood cell (RBC) membrane. Parasite proteins of the RhopH complex: CLAG3, RhopH2, RhopH3, have been implicated in NPP activity. Here, we studied 13 exported proteins previously hypothesised to interact with RhopH2, to study their potential contribution to the function of NPPs. NPP activity assays revealed that the 13 proteins do not appear to be individually important for NPP function, as conditional knockdown of these proteins had no effect on sorbitol uptake. Intriguingly, reciprocal immunoprecipitation assays showed that five of the 13 proteins interact with all members of the RhopH complex, with PF3D7_1401200 showing the strongest association. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics further identified new protein complexes; a cytoskeletal complex and a Maurer's clefts/J-dot complex, which overall helps clarify protein-protein interactions within the infected RBC (iRBC) and is suggestive of the potential trafficking route of the RhopH complex itself to the RBC membrane.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010271	Parasites	Invertebrate organisms that live on or in another organism (the host), and benefit at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic BACTERIA; FUNGI; VIRUSES; and PLANTS; though they may live parasitically.	Parasite
D010963	Plasmodium falciparum	A species of protozoa that is the causal agent of falciparum malaria (MALARIA, FALCIPARUM). It is most prevalent in the tropics and subtropics.	Plasmodium falciparums,falciparums, Plasmodium
D004910	Erythrocyte Membrane	The semi-permeable outer structure of a red blood cell. It is known as a red cell 'ghost' after HEMOLYSIS.	Erythrocyte Ghost,Red Cell Cytoskeleton,Red Cell Ghost,Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton,Cytoskeleton, Erythrocyte,Cytoskeleton, Red Cell,Erythrocyte Cytoskeletons,Erythrocyte Ghosts,Erythrocyte Membranes,Ghost, Erythrocyte,Ghost, Red Cell,Membrane, Erythrocyte,Red Cell Cytoskeletons,Red Cell Ghosts
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015800	Protozoan Proteins	Proteins found in any species of protozoan.	Proteins, Protozoan
D021381	Protein Transport	The process of moving proteins from one cellular compartment (including extracellular) to another by various sorting and transport mechanisms such as gated transport, protein translocation, and vesicular transport.	Cellular Protein Targeting,Gated Protein Transport,Protein Targeting, Cellular,Protein Translocation,Transmembrane Protein Transport,Vesicular Protein Transport,Protein Localization Processes, Cellular,Protein Sorting,Protein Trafficking,Protein Transport, Gated,Protein Transport, Transmembrane,Protein Transport, Vesicular,Traffickings, Protein