A plant-like kinase in Plasmodium falciparum regulates parasite egress from erythrocytes.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-14-2010
Abstract
Clinical malaria is associated with the proliferation of Plasmodium parasites in human erythrocytes. The coordinated processes of parasite egress from and invasion into erythrocytes are rapid and tightly regulated. We have found that the plant-like calcium-dependent protein kinase PfCDPK5, which is expressed in invasive merozoite forms of Plasmodium falciparum, was critical for egress. Parasites deficient in PfCDPK5 arrested as mature schizonts with intact membranes, despite normal maturation of egress proteases and invasion ligands. Merozoites physically released from stalled schizonts were capable of invading new erythrocytes, separating the pathways of egress and invasion. The arrest was downstream of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (PfPKG) function and independent of protease processing. Thus, PfCDPK5 plays an essential role during the blood stage of malaria replication.
Volume
328
Issue
5980
First Page
910
Last Page
912
ISSN
1095-9203
Published In/Presented At
Dvorin, J. D., Martyn, D. C., Patel, S. D., Grimley, J. S., Collins, C. R., Hopp, C. S., Bright, A. T., Westenberger, S., Winzeler, E., Blackman, M. J., Baker, D. A., Wandless, T. J., & Duraisingh, M. T. (2010). A plant-like kinase in Plasmodium falciparum regulates parasite egress from erythrocytes. Science (New York, N.Y.), 328(5980), 910–912. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1188191
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
PubMedID
20466936
Department(s)
Department of Pediatrics
Document Type
Article