Localisation of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
The enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been located in parasites and parasite-infected erythrocytes by antibody probing. The probe was a polyclonal rabbit antiserum made against the parasite enzyme made in Escherichia coli. The enzyme is associated with membrane-bound compartments in merozoites and asexual blood parasites. In particular, indirect immunofluorescence studies reveal the enzyme localized in vesicle-like structures within the cytoplasm of the infected erythrocyte. This is the first time a P. falciparum protein of defined metabolic function has been tracked to a site outside the parasite cytosol. Studies on the targeting of the enzyme using a cell-free system suggests that the protein reaches its destination via a route different from the normal secretory pathway.
Shahabuddin
M
M
Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Günther
K
K
Lingelbach
K
K
Aikawa
M
M
Schreiber
M
M
Ridley
R G
RG
Scaife
J G
JG
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004247:DNA; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000201:enzymology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000201:enzymology*
D004247:DNA; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase