Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Preparing Lamellae from Vitreous Biological Samples Using a Dual-Beam Scanning Electron Microscope for Cryo-Electron Tomography
07:00

Preparing Lamellae from Vitreous Biological Samples Using a Dual-Beam Scanning Electron Microscope for Cryo-Electron Tomography

Published on: August 5, 2021

Structure of the MTIP-MyoA complex, a key component of the malaria parasite invasion motor

Jürgen Bosch1, Stewart Turley, Thomas M Daly

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|March 21, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Researchers uncovered how malaria parasites use MyoA and MTIP proteins to invade cells. Understanding this interaction reveals new strategies for developing antimalarial drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Structural Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Malaria parasites possess sophisticated mechanisms for cell invasion in both human and insect hosts.
  • A key interaction involves the myosin motor MyoA and MyoA-tail Interacting Protein (MTIP).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural basis of the MyoA-MTIP interaction.
  • To identify potential targets for antimalarial drug development.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography was used to determine the structure of Plasmodium MTIP.
  • The study analyzed three distinct conformations of MTIP, including one bound to the MyoA-tail.

Main Results:

  • The crystal structure revealed significant conformational changes in MTIP's C-terminal domain upon MyoA-tail binding.
  • These changes create hydrophobic pockets in MTIP that accommodate MyoA's hydrophobic side chains.
  • The MyoA helix was shown to inhibit parasite growth.

Conclusions:

  • The structural insights into MyoA-MTIP interaction provide a foundation for rational antimalarial drug design.
  • Targeting this interaction could lead to novel therapeutic strategies against malaria.

More Related Videos

Understanding the Development of Compensatory Pathways in a Mutant Malaria Parasite Harbouring Hypomorphic Allele of Plant-Like Kinases09:13

Understanding the Development of Compensatory Pathways in a Mutant Malaria Parasite Harbouring Hypomorphic Allele of Plant-Like Kinases

Published on: November 22, 2024

High-resolution Time-lapse Imaging and Automated Analysis of Microtubule Dynamics in Living Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells10:25

High-resolution Time-lapse Imaging and Automated Analysis of Microtubule Dynamics in Living Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Published on: August 13, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins01:32

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins

Eukaryotic cells have different motor proteins for transporting various cargo within the cell. These motor proteins differ based on the filament they associate with, the direction they move within the cell, and the type of cargo they transport. Motor proteins that associate with microtubules are known as microtubule-associated motor proteins. There are two families of microtubule-associated motor proteins —Kinesins and Dyneins. Both these proteins assist in the transport of cellular cargos...
The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles01:43

The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles

In eukaryotic cells,  cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria01:19

Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria

Mitochondrial precursors are translocated to the internal subcompartments via independent mechanisms involving distinct protein machineries called translocases.
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...