Trafficking of STEVOR to the Maurer's clefts in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.

ABSTRACT: The human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum exports proteins to destinations within its host erythrocyte, including cytosol, surface and membranous profiles of parasite origin termed Maurer's clefts. Although several of these exported proteins are determinants of pathology and virulence, the mechanisms and trafficking signals underpinning protein export are largely uncharacterized-particularly for exported transmembrane proteins. Here, we have investigated the signals mediating trafficking of STEVOR, a family of transmembrane proteins located at the Maurer's clefts and believed to play a role in antigenic variation. Our data show that, apart from a signal sequence, a minimum of two addition signals are required. This includes a host cell targeting signal for export to the host erythr

SUBMITTER: Przyborski JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1173160 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature