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.
Division of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, UK.
K P
KP
O'Dea
P G
PG
McKean
A
A
Harris
K N
KN
Brown
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