A novel family of Apicomplexan glideosome-associated proteins with an inner membrane-anchoring role.

ABSTRACT: The phylum Apicomplexa are a group of obligate intracellular parasites responsible for a wide range of important diseases. Central to the lifecycle of these unicellular parasites is their ability to migrate through animal tissue and invade target host cells. Apicomplexan movement is generated by a unique system of gliding motility in which substrate adhesins and invasion-related proteins are pulled across the plasma membrane by an underlying actin-myosin motor. The myosins of this motor are inserted into a dual membrane layer called the inner membrane complex (IMC) that is sandwiched between the plasma membrane and an underlying cytoskeletal basket. Central to our understanding of gliding motility is the characterization of proteins residing within the IMC, but to date only a few proteins

SUBMITTER: Bullen HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2757237 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature