Concerted action of two formins in gliding motility and host cell invasion by Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: The invasive forms of apicomplexan parasites share a conserved form of gliding motility that powers parasite migration across biological barriers, host cell invasion and egress from infected cells. Previous studies have established that the duration and direction of gliding motility are determined by actin polymerization; however, regulators of actin dynamics in apicomplexans remain poorly characterized. In the absence of a complete ARP2/3 complex, the formin homology 2 domain containing proteins and the accessory protein profilin are presumed to orchestrate actin polymerization during host cell invasion. Here, we have undertaken the biochemical and functional characterization of two Toxoplasma gondii formins and established that they act in concert as actin nucleators during invasion. The

SUBMITTER: Daher W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2951370 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature