Domain III of Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 binds to the erythrocyte membrane protein Kx.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is located in the merozoite micronemes, an organelle that contains receptors for invasion, suggesting that AMA1 may play a role in this process. However, direct evidence that P. falciparum AMA1 binds to human erythrocytes is lacking. In this study, we determined that domain III of AMA1 binds to the erythrocyte membrane protein, Kx, and that the rate of invasion of Kx(null) erythrocytes is reduced, indicating a significant but not unique role of AMA1 and Kx in parasite invasion of erythrocytes. Domains I/II/III, domains I/II and domain III of AMA1 were expressed on the surface of CHO-K1 cells, and their ability to bind erythrocytes was determined. We observed that each of these domains failed to bind untreated human erythrocytes. In con

SUBMITTER: Kato K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC556269 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature