The Plasmodium knowlesi MAHRP2 ortholog localizes to structures connecting Sinton Mulligan's clefts in the infected erythrocyte. Issue 4 (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asare, Kwame Kumi; Sakaguchi, Miako; Lucky, Amuza Byaruhanga; Asada, Masahito; Miyazaki, Shinya; Katakai, Yuko; Kawai, Satoru; Song, Chihong; Murata, Kazuyoshi; Yahata, Kazuhide; Kaneko, Osamu
• Is Part Of: Parasitology international. Volume 67:Issue 4(2018:Aug.)
• Page Start: 481
• Page End: 492
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Parasitic Diseases -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; 571.99905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2018.04.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1383-5769

Abstract

Abstract: During development within the host erythrocyte malaria parasites generate nascent membranous structures which serve as a pathway for parasite protein transport to modify the host cell. The molecular basis of such membranous structures is not well understood, particularly for malaria parasites other than Plasmodium falciparum . To characterize the structural basis of protein trafficking in the Plasmodium knowlesi -infected erythrocyte, we identified a P. knowlesi ortholog of MAHRP2, a marker of the tether structure that connects membranous structures in the P. falciparum -infected erythrocyte. We show that PkMAHRP2 localizes on amorphous structures that connect Sinton Mulligan's clefts (SMC) to each other and to the erythrocyte membrane. Three dimensional reconstruction of the P. knowlesi -infected erythrocyte revealed that the SMC is a plate-like structure with swollen ends, reminiscent of the morphology of the Golgi apparatus. The PkMAHRP2-localized amorphous structures are possibly functionally equivalent to P. falciparum tether structure. These findings suggest a conservation in the ultrastructure of protein trafficking between P. falciparum and P. knowlesi . Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Identification of the P. knowlesi MAHRP2 ortholog, PkMAHRP2. P. knowlesi Sinton Mulligan's clefts are composed of plate- and bag-like structures. PkMAHRP2 localizes on an amorphous structure, not on Sinton Mulligan's clefts. Episomally expressed PkMAHRP2 localizes to tethers in P. falciparum . The P. knowlesi amorphous structure appears to function as a tether.