Plasmodium rhoptries: how things went pear-shaped.
Plasmodium parasites have three sets of specialised secretory organelles at the apical end of their invasive forms--rhoptries, micronemes and dense granules. The contents of these organelles are responsible for or contribute to host cell invasion and modification, and at least four apical proteins are leading vaccine candidates. Given the unusual nature of Plasmodium invasion, it is not surprising that unique proteins are involved in this process. Nowhere is this more evident than in rhoptries. We have collated data from several recent studies to compile a rhoptry proteome. Discussion is focussed here on rhoptry content and function.
Kats
Lev M
LM
Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
Black
Casilda G
CG
Proellocks
Nicholas I
NI
Coppel
Ross L
RL
D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D015800:Protozoan Proteins