An ER-resident lipid scramblase is crucial for biogenesis and function of apicomplexan parasite secretory organelles.

ABSTRACT: Apicomplexan parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, contain specialized secretory organelles such as micronemes, rhoptries, and dense granules, which are essential for parasite motility, host cell invasion, development, and egress. DedA superfamily proteins are implicated in lipid mobilization, which is a key requirement for organelle biogenesis. Herein, we identify and investigate the vacuole membrane protein 1 (VMP1), a DedA superfamily member, of P. falciparum (PfVMP1) and T. gondii (TgVMP1). PfVMP1 and TgVMP1 are ER-localized lipid scramblases. TgVMP1 depletion adversely affects parasite development, motility, host cell invasion, and egress. These phenotypes are consistent with impaired rhoptry and dense granule biogenesis, and decreased secretion of micronem

SUBMITTER: Reddy GS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12749514 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature