title: Aldolase forms a bridge between cell surface adhesins and the actin cytoskeleton in apicomplexan parasites.
abstract: Host cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites requires coordinated interactions between cell surface adhesins and the parasite cytoskeleton. We have identified a complex of parasite proteins, including the actin binding protein aldolase, which specifically interacts with the C-terminal domains of several parasite adhesins belonging to the thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) family. Binding of aldolase to the adhesin was disrupted by mutation of a critical tryptophan in the C domain, a residue that was previously shown to be essential for parasite motility. Our findings reveal a potential role for aldolase in connecting TRAP family adhesins with the cytoskeleton, and provide a model linking adhesion with motility in apicomplexan parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Travis J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jewett
authors.forename: L David
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Sibley
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C408878:MIC2 protein, Toxoplasma gondii; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C069428:thrombospondin-related adhesive protein, protozoan; D014364:Tryptophan; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase