Casein Kinases 2-dependent phosphorylation of the placental ligand VAR2CSA regulates Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes cytoadhesion.

ABSTRACT: Placental malaria is characterized by the massive accumulation and sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the placental intervillous blood spaces, causing severe birth outcomes. The variant surface antigen VAR2CSA is associated with Plasmodium falciparum sequestration in the placenta via its capacity to adhere to chondroitin sulfate A. We have previously shown that the extracellular region of VAR2CSA is phosphorylated on several residues and that the phosphorylation enhances the adhesive properties of CSA-binding infected erythrocytes. Here, we aimed to identify the kinases mediating this phosphorylation. We report that Human and Plasmodium falciparum Casein Kinase 2α are involved in the phosphorylation of the extracellular region of VAR2CSA. We notably show that both CK2α can phosphory

SUBMITTER: Dorin-Semblat D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11761665 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature