Crystallization and preliminary structural characterization of the two actin isoforms of the malaria parasite. Issue 10 (8th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bhargav, Saligram Prabhakar; Vahokoski, Juha; Kumpula, Esa‐Pekka; Kursula, Inari
• Is Part Of: Acta crystallographica. Volume 69:Issue 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1171
• Page End: 1176
• Publication Date: 2013-10-08
• Subjects: Crystallography -- Periodicals; Crystals -- Periodicals; 548
• DOI: 10.1107/S174430911302441X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-3091

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Malaria is a devastating disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus <italic>Plasmodium</italic> that use a divergent actin‐powered molecular motor for motility and invasion. <italic>Plasmodium</italic> actin differs from canonical actins in sequence, structure and function. Here, the purification, crystallization and secondary‐structure analysis of the two <italic>Plasmodium</italic> actin isoforms are presented. The recombinant parasite actins were folded and could be purified to homogeneity. <italic>Plasmodium</italic> actins I and II were crystallized in complex with the gelsolin G1 domain; the crystals diffracted to resolutions of 1.19 and 2.2 Å and belonged to space groups <italic>P</italic>2₁2₁2₁ and <italic>P</italic>2₁, respectively, each with one complex in the asymmetric unit.</p> </abstract>