title: Novel insights into the regulation of malarial calcium-dependent protein kinase 1.
abstract: Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are major effectors of calcium signaling in apicomplexan parasites like Toxoplasma and Plasmodium and control important processes of the parasite life cycle. Despite recently reported crystal structures of Toxoplasma gondii (Tg)CDPKs, several important questions about their regulation remain unanswered. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)CDPK1 has emerged as a key player in the life cycle of the malaria parasite, as it may be involved in the invasion of the host cells. Molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis studies on PfCDPK1 suggested that several residues in the regulatory domain play a dual role, as they seem to contribute to the stabilization of both the active and inactive kinase. Mass spectrometry revealed that PfCDPK1 was autophosphorylated at several sites; some of these were placed at strategic locations and therefore were found to be critical for kinase activation. The N-terminal extension of PfCDPK1 was found to be important for PfCDPK1 activation. Unexpectedly, an ATP binding site in the NTE of PfCDPK1 was identified. Our studies highlight several novel features of PfCDPK1 regulation, which may be shared by other members of the CDPK family. These findings may also aid design of inhibitors against these important targets, which are absent from the host.
authors.affiliation: Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gaadhe
authors.forename: Guru Prasad
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Narendra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neculai
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Debasisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.forename: Pushkar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000201:enzymology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011494:Protein Kinases; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases