A family of intermediate filament-like proteins is sequentially assembled into the cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: The intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii divides by a unique process of internal budding that involves the assembly of two daughter cells within the mother. The cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma, which is composed of microtubules associated with an inner membrane complex (IMC), has an important role in this process. The IMC, which is directly under the plasma membrane, contains a set of flattened membranous sacs lined on the cytoplasmic side by a network of filamentous proteins. This network contains a family of intermediate filament-like proteins or IMC proteins. In order to elucidate the division process, we have characterized a 14-member subfamily of Toxoplasma IMC proteins that share a repeat motif found in proteins associated with the cortical alveoli in all alveolates. By crea

SUBMITTER: Anderson-White BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3005026 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature