title: Heme binding and polymerization by Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein II: influence of pH on activity and conformation.
abstract: The histidine rich protein II (HRPII) from Plasmodium falciparum has been implicated as a heme polymerase which detoxifies free heme by its polymerization to inactive hemozoin. Histidine-iron center coordination is the dominant mechanism of interaction between the amino acid and heme. The protein also contains aspartate allowing for ionic/coordination interactions between the carboxylate side chain and the heme metal center. The pH profile of heme binding and polymerization shows the possibility of these two types of binding sites being differentiated by pH. Circular dichroism studies of the protein show that pH and heme binding cause a change in conformation above pH 6 implying the involvement of His-His+ transitions. Heme binding at pHs above 6 perturbs HRPII conformation, causing an increase in helicity.
authors.affiliation: Malaria Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 10504, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein; D006418:Heme