Re-defining the Golgi complex in Plasmodium falciparum using the novel Golgi marker PfGRASP.
Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, relies on a sophisticated protein secretion system for host cell invasion and transformation. Although the parasite displays a secretory pathway similar to those of all eukaryotic organisms, a classical Golgi apparatus has never been described. We identified and characterised the putative Golgi matrix protein PfGRASP, a homologue of the Golgi re-assembly stacking protein (GRASP) family. We show that PfGRASP is expressed as a 70 kDa protein throughout the asexual life cycle of the parasite. We generated PfGRASP-GFP-expressing transgenic parasites and showed that this protein is localised to a single, juxtanuclear compartment in ring-stage parasites. The PfGRASP compartment is distinct from the ER, restricted within the boundaries of the parasite and colocalises with the cis-Golgi marker ERD2. Correct subcellular localisation of this Golgi matrix protein depends on a cross-species conserved functional myristoylation motif and is insensitive to Brefeldin A. Taken together our results define the Golgi apparatus in Plasmodium and depict the morphological organisation of the organelle throughout the asexual life cycle of the parasite.
Struck
Nicole S
NS
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Malaria II, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
de Souza Dias
Suzana
S
Langer
Christine
C
Marti
Matthias
M
Pearce
J Andrew
JA
Cowman
Alan F
AF
Gilberger
Tim W
TW
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077614:Golgi Matrix Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
C122048:GORASP2 protein, human; C509078:GRASP protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D000077614:Golgi Matrix Proteins; C485684:Gorasp2 protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins