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- Title
A malaria membrane skeletal protein is essential for normal morphogenesis, motility, and infectivity of sporozoites.
- Authors
Khater, Emad I.; Sinden, Robert E.; Dessens, Johannes T.
- Abstract
Membrane skeletons are structural elements that provide mechanical support to the plasma membrane and define cell shape. Here, we identify and characterize a putative protein component of the membrane skeleton of the malaria parasite. The protein, named PblMCla, is the structural orthologue of the Toxoplasma gondii inner membrane complex protein 1 (T9IMC1), a component of the membrane skeleton in tachyzoites. Using targeted gene disruption in the rodent malaria species Plasmodium berghei, we show that PbIMC1 a is involved in sporozoite development, is necessary for providing normal sporozoite cell shape and mechanical stability, and is essential for sporozoite infectivity in insect and vertebrate hosts. Knockout of PbIMC1 a protein expression reduces, but does not abolish, sporozoite gliding locomotion. We identify a family of proteins related to PbIMC1 a in Plasmodium and other apicomplexan parasites. These results provide new functional insight in the role of membrane skeletons in apicomplexan parasite biology.
- Subjects
MALARIA; CELL membranes; TOXOPLASMA gondii; PLASMODIUM; PROTEINS; PARASITES
- Publication
Journal of Cell Biology, 2004, Vol 167, Issue 3, p425
- ISSN
0021-9525
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1083/jcb.200406068