title: Identification of novel rhoptry neck protein of Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: The clinical symptoms of malaria are attributed to the blood stage life cycle of parasite in which merozoite invades erythrocyte, undergoes multiplication and exit to re-invade into new erythrocyte to continue its life cycle. The interaction of repertoire of parasite proteins with host cell receptors is essential for invasion process. Identification, characterization and localization of the proteins involved in invasion will enrich our understanding of this complex process. In the present study we have identified a novel Apical Rhoptry Neck Protein in Plasmodium falciparum, which harbours a predicted signal and transmembrane domain and is conserved across the species. The transcription and translation analysis confirmed its expression in schizont stage of asexual cycle of P. falciparum. Immunoflouresence microscopy in schizonts and merozoites revealed its localization in the neck of rhoptries of P. falciparum. Furthermore, PfARNP has been found at the tight junction during invasion of P. falciparum merozoite to erythrocyte.
authors.affiliation: Malaria Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P. O. Box 10504, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.forename: Shailja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Virander S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
mesh_terms: D004705:Endocytosis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015388:Organelles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D015800:Protozoan Proteins