title: MARveling at parasite invasion.
abstract: Micronemal proteins (MICs) are key mediators of cytoadherence and invasion for Toxoplasma gondii. Emerging evidence indicates that carbohydrate binding facilitates Toxoplasma entry into host cells. The recently solved Toxoplasma MIC1s (TgMIC1s) structure reveals the presence of novel specialized domains that can discriminate between glycan residues. Comparison with Plasmodium erythrocyte-binding antigen 175 reveals that terminal sialic acid residues might represent a shared but tailored invasion pathway among apicomplexan parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA. khager1@nd.edu
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hager
authors.forename: Vern B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Carruthers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008024:Ligands; C105877:MIC1 protein, Toxoplasma gondii; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid