Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Author Spotlight: Identifying Compensatory Pathways in Malaria Parasites Containing Hypomorphic Allele of Essential Protein Kinases
Published on: November 22, 2024
Proteasome associated function of UCH37 is evolutionarily conserved in Plasmodium parasites
Mohsen Hajisadeghian1, Annie M Geiger1, Carla Briggs1
1Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract:
Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase 37 (UCH37 also known as UCHL5) is a conserved deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) with dual roles in proteasomal degradation and chromatin remodeling in humans. Its Plasmodium falciparum ortholog, PfUCH37, is unusual in that it possesses both DUB and deneddylating activities. While PfUCH37 is enriched in proteasome preparations, its direct interaction and broader functions in Plasmodium remain unclear, particularly given the absence of the chromatin remodeling complex INO80 homologs. This study utilizes transgenic parasites and proteomics to identify PfUCH37-associating proteins. We confirm a direct interaction with the proteasome and demonstrate that the interaction mechanism is evolutionarily conserved. Notably, we discover a divergence in localization compared to the human enzyme and identify novel interacting partners, suggesting alternative functions for PfUCH37 in Plasmodium. These findings provide insights into the unique biology of this enzyme in malaria parasites, potentially opening avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.
Related Concept Videos
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
The Proteasome Structure
The proteasome is an...
Diversity of Protists II
Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to...
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Export of Misfolded Proteins out of the ER

