Adhesion protein complexes of malaria gametocytes assemble following parasite transmission to the mosquito

Nina Simon*, Andrea Kuehn, Kim C. Williamson, Gabriele Pradel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

During differentiation in the human, the gametocytes of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum display a remarkable number of adhesive proteins on their plasma membrane. These include the PfCCp protein family of six secreted proteins that assemble to multimeric protein complexes (MPCs) within the gametocyte parasitophorous vacuole. We now show that the PfCCp-based MPCs are linked to the gametocyte plasma membrane via interactionswith Pfs230, a binding-partner of the GPI-anchored Pfs48/45. Upon onset of gametogenesis, which takes place after gametocyte uptake by blood-feeding mosquitoes, GPI-anchored Pfs25 joins the MPC, providing an additional link of its components to the plasma membrane. Gametogenesis also initiates cleavage of Pfs230 at its N-terminal site, resulting in its increased interaction with the MPC. Either lack of Pfs230 or impaired Pfs230 processing causes proteolysis of the PfCCp proteins and release from the MPC. Our data point to MPC assembly as a crucial step for sexual reproduction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-30
Number of pages4
JournalParasitology International
Volume65
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Gametogenesis
  • Multi-protein complex
  • PfCCp protein
  • Pfs230
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Transmission

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