Biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol is essential to the survival of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
The PIGA gene from Toxoplasma gondii has been cloned and characterized. Like mammalian PIGA, the transmembrane and C-terminal domains are sufficient to direct localization to the parasite endoplasmic reticulum. A functional copy of PIGA is required for tachyzoite viability, demonstrating that glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis is an essential process in T. gondii.
Wichroski
Michael J
MJ
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.
Ward
Gary E
GE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043265:Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C080086:phosphatidylinositol glycan-class A protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; D043265:Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase