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Characterization of a nuclear transport factor 2-like domain-containing protein in Plasmodium berghei

Mamoru Niikura1, Toshiyuki Fukutomi2, Jiro Mitobe3

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. mniikura@ks.kyorin-u.ac.jp.

Malaria Journal
|January 9, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Plasmodium parasites lack a known mRNA export receptor. Researchers studied PBANKA_1019700, an NTF2-like protein, finding it localizes to the cytoplasm and interacts with ubiquitin proteins, impacting the parasite's sexual phase.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Parasitology
  • Cell biology

Background:

  • Plasmodium parasites lack a direct ortholog to yeast mRNA export receptor Mex67.
  • The presence of a nuclear transport factor 2 (NTF2)-like domain in Mex67 suggests related proteins may mediate mRNA export in Plasmodium.
  • PBANKA_1019700 is an NTF2-like domain-containing protein in Plasmodium berghei.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of PBANKA_1019700 in mRNA export in Plasmodium berghei.
  • To determine the localization and interaction partners of PBANKA_1019700.
  • To assess the impact of PBANKA_1019700 deletion on parasite growth and virulence.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of a deletion mutant (Δ1019700) in Plasmodium berghei ANKA.
  • Live-cell fluorescence imaging of transgenic parasites expressing PBANKA_1019700::mCherry fusion protein.
  • Immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry (IP-MS) to identify protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • Deletion of PBANKA_1019700 specifically affected the sexual phase, not the asexual phase, of malaria parasite development.
  • Live-cell imaging revealed that PBANKA_1019700 predominantly localizes to the cytoplasm.
  • IP-MS analysis demonstrated that PBANKA_1019700 interacts with ubiquitin-related proteins, not nuclear proteins.

Conclusions:

  • PBANKA_1019700 functions as a noncanonical member of the NTF2-like superfamily.
  • The protein's cytoplasmic localization and interaction with ubiquitin proteins suggest a role beyond canonical mRNA export.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise function of PBANKA_1019700 in Plasmodium sexual development.
Keywords:
ExportNTF2-like proteinNoncanonicalPlasmodiummRNA

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