title: Plasmodium falciparum signal sequences: simply sequences or special signals?
abstract: The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, synthesises and exports several proteins inducing morphological and biochemical modifications of erythrocytes during the erythrocytic cycle. The protein trafficking machinery of the parasite is similar to that of other eukaryotic cells in several ways. However, some unusual features are also observed. The secretion of various polypeptides was inhibited when P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes were incubated with Brefeldin A. Immunoelectron microscopy studies revealed substantial morphological changes in the endoplasmic reticulum following exposure of parasitised erythrocytes to the drug. Immunofluorescence studies of Brefeldin A-treated parasites suggest that polypeptide sorting to different intracellular destinations begins at the endoplasmic reticulum. The parasite also secretes polypeptides by a Brefeldin A-insensitive route that bypasses the classical endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi complex pathway.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, CNRS URA 1960, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nacer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Slomianny
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mattei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020126:Brefeldin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D020126:Brefeldin A