Structural characterization of the erythrocyte binding domain of the reticulocyte binding protein homologue family of Plasmodium yoelii

Infect Immun. 2011 Jul;79(7):2880-8. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01326-10. Epub 2011 Apr 11.

Abstract

Invasion of the host cell by the malaria parasite is a key step for parasite survival and the only stage of its life cycle where the parasite is extracellular, and it is therefore a target for an antimalaria intervention strategy. Multiple members of the reticulocyte binding protein homologues (RH) family are found in all plasmodia and have been shown to bind to host red blood cells directly. In the study described here, we delineated the erythrocyte binding domain (EBD) of one member of the RH family, termed Py235, from Plasmodium yoelii. Moreover, we have obtained the low-resolution structure of the EBD using small-angle X-ray scattering. Comparison of the EDB structure to other characterized Plasmodium receptor binding domains suggests that there may be an overall structural conservation. These findings may help in developing new approaches to target receptor ligand interactions mediated by parasite proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Weight
  • Plasmodium yoelii / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Duffy antigen binding protein, Plasmodium
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface