Spatial association with PTEX complexes defines regions for effector export into Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes
Journal Title
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Publication Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Export of proteins into the infected erythrocyte is critical for malaria parasite survival. The majority of effector proteins are thought to export via a proteinaceous translocon, resident in the parasitophorous vacuole membrane surrounding the parasite. Identification of the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins and its biochemical association with exported proteins suggests it performs this role. Direct evidence for this, however, is lacking. Here using viable purified Plasmodium falciparum merozoites and three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy, we investigate remodelling events immediately following parasite invasion. We show that multiple complexes of the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins localize together in foci that dynamically change in clustering behaviour. Furthermore, we provide conclusive evidence of spatial association between exported proteins and exported protein 2, a core component of the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins, during native conditions and upon generation of translocation intermediates. These data provide the most direct cellular evidence to date that protein export occurs at regions of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane housing the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins complex.
Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Keywords
MEROZOITE DENSE GRANULES; HEMOLYSIN-E HLYE; MALARIA PARASITE; HOST-CELL; STRUCTURED ILLUMINATION; MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES; BIOLOGICAL-MEMBRANES; PROTEIN IMPORT; CONTACT SITES; INVASION
Research Division(s)
Infection And Immunity; Systems Biology And Personalised Medicine
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Creation Date: 2013-01-01 12:00:00
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