An Invariant Protein That Colocalizes With VAR2CSA on Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Red Cells Binds to Chondroitin Sulfate A.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) bind and sequester in deep vascular beds, causing malaria-related disease and death. In pregnant women, VAR2CSA binds to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) and mediates placental sequestration, making it the major placental malaria (PM) vaccine target.

Methods

In this study, we characterize an invariant protein associated with PM called P falciparum chondroitin sulfate A ligand (PfCSA-L).

Results

Recombinant PfCSA-L binds both placental CSA and VAR2CSA with nanomolar affinity, and it is coexpressed on the iRBC surface with VAR2CSA. Unlike VAR2CSA, which is anchored by a transmembrane domain, PfCSA-L is peripherally associated with the outer surface of knobs through high-affinity protein-protein interactions wi

SUBMITTER: Keitany GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9159320 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature