Processing of the Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS merozoite surface protein 1 in vivo and in vitro.
Processing of the Plasmodium merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) has been described for parasites maintained under in vitro conditions. We have now demonstrated, using CBA/Ca mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS, that MSP-1 processing also occurs in vivo. The major proteolytic cleavage sites and a processing scheme were deduced from N-terminal amino-acid sequences of the MSP-1 breakdown products. Comparison of MSP-1 processing in P. falciparum and P.c. chabaudi indicates a degree of conservation and in two cases the position of protease cleavage appears identical. Significant amounts of MSP-1 polypeptides are found in plasma during schizogony. Various aspects of MSP-1 processing including immunological and physiological reactions in the host during the critical period of schizogony can now be examined in vivo.
O'Dea
K P
KP
Division of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, UK.
McKean
P G
PG
Harris
A
A
Brown
K N
KN
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D011498:Protein Precursors; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases