Implications of conformational flexibility, lipid binding, and regulatory domains in cell-traversal protein CelTOS for apicomplexan migration.

ABSTRACT: Malaria and other apicomplexan-caused diseases affect millions of humans, agricultural animals, and pets. Cell traversal is a common feature used by multiple apicomplexan parasites to migrate through host cells and can be exploited to develop therapeutics against these deadly parasites. Here, we provide insights into the mechanism of the Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS), a conserved cell-traversal protein in apicomplexan parasites and malaria vaccine candidate. CelTOS has previously been shown to form pores in cell membranes to enable traversal of parasites through cells. We establish roles for the distinct protein regions of Plasmodium vivax CelTOS and examine the mechanism of pore formation. We further demonstrate that CelTOS dimer dissociation is required fo

SUBMITTER: Kumar H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9400078 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature