The s48/45 six-cysteine proteins: mediators of interaction throughout the Plasmodium life cycle.

ABSTRACT: During their life cycle Plasmodium parasites rely upon an arsenal of proteins that establish key interactions with the host and vector, and between the parasite sexual stages, with the purpose of ensuring infection, reproduction and proliferation. Among these is a group of secreted or membrane-anchored proteins known as the six-cysteine (6-cys) family. This is a small but important family with only 14 members thus far identified, each stage-specifically expressed during the parasite life cycle. 6-cys proteins often localise at the parasite surface or interface with the host and vector, and are conserved in different Plasmodium species. The unifying feature of the family is the s48/45 domain, presumably involved in adhesion and structurally related to Ephrins, the ligands of Eph receptors.

SUBMITTER: Arredondo SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5446806 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature