The Actin Filament-Binding Protein Coronin Regulates Motility in Plasmodium Sporozoites.

ABSTRACT: Parasites causing malaria need to migrate in order to penetrate tissue barriers and enter host cells. Here we show that the actin filament-binding protein coronin regulates gliding motility in Plasmodium berghei sporozoites, the highly motile forms of a rodent malaria-causing parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Parasites lacking coronin show motility defects that impair colonization of the mosquito salivary glands but not migration in the skin, yet result in decreased transmission efficiency. In non-motile sporozoites low calcium concentrations mediate actin-independent coronin localization to the periphery. Engagement of extracellular ligands triggers an intracellular calcium release followed by the actin-dependent relocalization of coronin to the rear and initiation of motility. Mutation

SUBMITTER: Bane KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4943629 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature