Intriguing parasites and intramembrane proteases.
Rhomboid intramembrane proteases occur throughout the kingdoms of life. In this issue of Genes & Development, Baxt and colleagues (pp. 1636-1646) report that the single proteolytic rhomboid (EhROM1) from Entamoeba histolytica cleaves cell surface galactose-binding or N-acetylgalactosamine-binding (Gal/Gal-NAc) lectins. EhROM1 and lectins colocalize during phagocytosis and receptor capping. EhROM1 is found at the base of the cap rather than in the cap proper, suggesting a role in receptor shedding and implying that EhROM1 is crucial for amoebal infection.
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Rob.Rawson@UTSouthwestern.Edu
Robert B
RB
Rawson
D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C081962:RHBDF1 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C026515:type I signal peptidase; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C120654:MBTPS2 protein, human