title: The moving junction of apicomplexan parasites: a key structure for invasion.
abstract: Most Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites and many are important pathogens of human and domestic animals. For a successful cell invasion, they rely on their own motility and on a firm anchorage to their host cell, depending on the secretion of proteins and the establishment of a structure called the moving junction (MJ). The MJ moves from the apical to the posterior end of the parasite, leading to the internalization of the parasite into a parasitophorous vacuole. Based on recent data obtained in Plasmodium and Toxoplasma, an emerging model emphasizes a cooperative role of secreted parasitic proteins in building the MJ and driving this crucial invasive process. More precisely, the parasite exports the microneme protein AMA1 to its own surface and the rhoptry neck RON2 protein as a receptor inserted into the host cell together with other RON partners. Ongoing and future research will certainly help refining the model by characterizing the molecular organization within the MJ and its interactions with both host and parasite cytoskeleton for anchoring of the complex.
authors.affiliation: UMR 5235 CNRS, DIMNP, Université de Montpellier 2,cc 107, 34095 Montpellier cedex 05, France. sebastien.besterio@univmontp2.fr
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Besteiro
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dubremetz
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebrun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000469:parasitology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors