Trafficking of STEVOR to the Maurer's clefts in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes
- Author(s)
- Przyborski, JM; Miller, SK; Pfahler, JM; Henrich, PP; Rohrbach, P; Crabb, BS; Lanzer, M;
- Details
- Publication Year 2005-07-06,Volume 24,Issue #13,Page 2306-2317
- Journal Title
- EMBO JOURNAL
- Publication Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- The human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum exports proteins to destinations within its host erythrocyte, including cytosol, surface and membranous profiles of parasite origin termed Maurer's clefts. Although several of these exported proteins are determinants of pathology and virulence, the mechanisms and trafficking signals underpinning protein export are largely uncharacterized - particularly for exported transmembrane proteins. Here, we have investigated the signals mediating trafficking of STEVOR, a family of transmembrane proteins located at the Maurer's clefts and believed to play a role in antigenic variation. Our data show that, apart from a signal sequence, a minimum of two addition signals are required. This includes a host cell targeting signal for export to the host erythrocyte and a transmembrane domain for final sorting to Maurer's clefts. Biochemical studies indicate that STEVOR traverses the secretory pathway as an integral membrane protein. Our data suggest general principles for transport of transmembrane proteins to the Maurer's clefts and provide new insights into protein sorting and trafficking processes in P. falciparum.
- Publisher
- NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
- Keywords
- HISTIDINE-RICH PROTEIN; MALARIA PARASITES; VARIANT ANTIGENS; HOST ERYTHROCYTE; SECRETORY PATHWAY; TARGETING SIGNAL; MEMBRANE-PROTEIN; SURFACE; LOCALIZATION; PFEMP1
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.emboj.7600720
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2005-07-06 12:00:00